New Tory MLA celebrates win, eyes political future
Last Updated: December 14 2005 08:13 AM CST
Hugh McFadyen completed his long apprenticeship as a political adviser for Manitoba Conservatives, winning the Fort Whyte riding in a byelection Tuesday night.
The first poll result removed any suspense from the evening: McFadyen had quadruple the number of votes of his closest rival. As expected, McFadyen easily won the byelection for the Tories, marking the third consecutive election the party has won the constituency with more than half the popular vote.
As the local lawyer and longtime backroom organizer prepares to head to the Manitoba legislature, he says he's anxious to start working for the residents of southwest Winnipeg.
"We've got some important issues that need to be dealt with in this corner of the city, the high school being on top of the list. So I want to take some immediate steps to see what we can do to advance the construction of a new high school in the area," he said.
McFadyen says Fort Whyte is the only provincial riding without its own high school.
Considering party leadership
The rookie MLA will enter the legislature during one of the lowest cycles in the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party's history. However, he believes it's a good time to jump into elected politics.
Despite the popularity of NDP Premier Gary Doer, McFadyen says the Tories now have momentum.
"I think the party's prospects are great. We're on the verge I think of a breakthrough. I think we're moving forward," he said.
"I think the party has been building in terms of momentum over the last period of time, under Stu Murray's leadership and beyond. And so I think we're in great shape going forward, and I'm looking forward to the next 12 to 18 months."
Last night's win was no surprise, but it raised another question about the future of the new MLA. Before he even had a change to greet his supporters, McFadyen was asked if he would seek the leadership of the provincial Tory party.
McFadyen said he's considering it.
NDP pleased with showing
McFadyen finished almost 2,000 votes ahead of his closest rival, Christina McDonald of the NDP. At a more subdued NDP headquarters, McDonald says she's happy with her showing in the Tory stronghold.
"People really like Gary Doer and the NDP government. But some people say, 'You know, I've always voted PC, and I'm a Tory. I will continue to vote PC,'" she said.
Liberal candidate Jean Paterson, a medical professor at the University of Manitoba, trailed McDonald by 200 votes, while 120 voters cast ballots for 18-year-old student Shelagh Pizey-Allen, who was running for the Green Party.
The byelection results won't make much of a difference in the situation at Manitoba's legislature, where the NDP has a comfortable majority.