ELECTION 2009: McNeil “proud” and “humbled” by election results

Following last week’s election, speculation has been rampant as pundits try to put a finger on how voters’ allegiances and wishes have shifted, or how an Atlantic province might look and act when led by an NDP government elected with a crushing 45% of the popular vote.

But, one fact remains undisputed: the NDP win in the 2009 Nova Scotia election was historic.

For local historians however another small point of significance may have piqued interest. The Valley has not produced a premier since then Education Minister Henry Hicks took the helm of the Liberals and hence the province after Angus MacDonald died in 1954. Hicks served as premier until “the greatest prime minister Canada never had” Truro’s Robert Stanfield snatched the title back for the PCs in 1956.

So, the 2009 election offered Valley voters a rare opportunity to cast a ballot for a party led by one of their own.

With that in mind, the amateur political junkies, number crunchers and tealeaf readers of the Valley might have a particular interest in the results posted by Stephen McNeil's Liberals.

Looking at returns from across the province, McNeil’s 6446 votes is the highest tally of all 52 ridings, and he is one of just four MLAs to capture more than 70% of ballots cast in their ridings, second only to NDP Frank Corbett in Cape Breton Centre.

Furthermore of the eleven Liberals elected, the four strongest finishers were McNeil (73.3% of ballots cast), Wayne Gaudet in Clare (64.7%), “Junior” Theriault in Digby-Annapolis (64.3%) and Leo Glavine in West Kings with (60.8%), painting a thick red line down the Valley to the French Shore.

McNeil says that “Even in the last election, when the party’s fortunes were at their lowest, the four of us increased our share (of the vote). We knew we had a good thing going, with all the credit to the support of our tremendous organizations in our ridings.” “I think it is a testament to the work of our teams, of course, but also the work of Wayne, Junior and Leo who have each really done a great job of delivering the messages of their constituents to the Legislature. And, they were rewarded for that with their constituents’ votes.”

Expressing regret that more headway was not made at the provincial level, McNeil remains positive about last Tuesday’s vote and the future of his party as the official opposition. “Well, I’m very encouraged by the gains we made. All nine of our incumbents were re-elected, and we return with two more seats in the house, both in the metro area. We have moved to official opposition status. The first person (the media) will come to for comment on what the government is doing will be the leader of the opposition, and that will help us get our own message out, which will allow us to shape public policy better.” “I’m very proud of the campaign we ran. I believe it was respectful. We presented a fully-costed program, projected over a period of years. It was reflective of who I am,” says McNeil. “I was very humbled, and treated very well by the people of Annapolis. I am thankful to those who set aside traditional votes and came to support me in my endeavours to lead our province. And, I am very encouraged that we will continue – with their help – to reach our goal of doing that one day.” ---------------------------------

Some related stats: ---------------------------------

RIDING OF ANNAPOLIS:

Total: 8791 votes (+485 vs. 2006)

LIB Stephen McNeil*: 6446 votes, 73.32% of ballots cast (+17.12% vs. 2006)

NDP Henry Spurr: 1176 votes, 13.38% of ballots cast (-3.37% vs. 2006)

PC Kent Robinson: 971 votes, 11.05% of ballots cast (-13.53% vs. 2006)

GRN Jamie Spinney: 198 votes, 2.25% of ballots cast (-0.23% vs. 2006) ---------------------------------

RIDING OF DIGBY-ANNAPOLIS

Total: 5463 votes (-496 vs. 2006)

LIB Harold (Jr) Theriault*: 3514 votes, 64.32% of ballots cast (+13.41% vs. 2006)

NDP Sherri Oliver: 1025 votes, 18.76% of ballots cast (+7.64% vs. 2006)

PC Cindy Nesbitt: 846 votes, 15.49% of ballots cast (-20.93% vs. 2006)

GRN Namron Bean: 78 votes, 1.43% of ballots cast (-0.12% vs. 2006) ---------------------------------

RIDING OF KINGS WEST

LIB Leo Glavine*: 4996 votes, 60.85% of ballots cast (+14.18% vs. 2006)

PC Chris Palmer: 1668 votes, 20.31% of ballots cast (-12.86% vs. 2006)

NDP Carol Tobin: 1398 votes, 17.03% of ballots cast (-1.81% vs. 2006)

GRN Nistal Prem de Boer: 149 votes, 1.81% of ballots cast (+0.49% vs. 2006) ---------------------------------

In all 52 ridings, only three candidates earned more than 6000 votes:

Stephen McNeil/LIB (Annapolis): 6446 votes (73.32% of 8791)

Bill Estabrooks/NDP (Timberlea-Prospect): 6174 votes (70.21% of 8793)

John MacDonell/NDP (Hants East) 6052 votes (65.14% of 9291) ---------------------------------

In all 52 ridings, only four candidates earned more than 70% of votes cast in their riding.

Frank Corbett/NDP (Cape Breton Centre): 78.90% (5258 out of 6664 votes)

Stephen McNeil/LIB (Annapolis): 73.32% (6446 of 8791 votes)

Gordie Grosse/NDP (Cape Breton Nova) 71.11% (4734 of 6657 votes)

Bill Estabrooks/NDP (Timberlea-Prospect): 70.21% (6174 of 8793 votes)