Voters in Surrey-Newton have once again elected an NDP MLA, with Jessie Sunner following in the footsteps of former MLA and labour minister Harry Bains, 72, who held the seat since 2005 before retiring from politics in July.
"I'm so excited, first of all I'm humbled and honoured that the residents of Surrey-Newton have put their trust into me and chosen me to be their representative in Victoria," she said in her first media interview as MLA-elect. "I want to fight for them, I want to make sure that we're getting them the resources that they need. We're building the hospitals, we're investing in schools, we're investing in making affordability for all, and making sure that everyone has housing.
"I look forward to fighting for them."
Sunner – a human rights and labour lawyer new to provincial politics – faced off against marketing executive and Radio Punjab radio host Tegjot Bal (Conservative), Amrit Birring (Freedom Party of B.C.), Japreet Lehal (Unaffiliated) and Joginder Singh Randhawa (Independent).
Bains said Sunner has "a fire in her belly" and "she's got what it takes. Jessie will represent Surrey-Newton better than anyone I can think. She knows the issues."
With seven of seven advance polls back and 12 of 13 election day ballot counts back, Sunner was at 7,6032 votes (50.79 per cent) to Bal's 6,506 votes (43.30 per cent). Out-of-district ballots were also in progress.
During the campaign, Sunner told the Now-Leader her three main priorities if elected are strengthening health care (new hospital, medical school, more doctors); increasing affordability (including housing) and investing in education.
The electoral district represents a portion of Newton proper, which has a population greater than that of Delta. The riding itself has a population of more than 62,000, heavily South Asian, with some 15,000 households and a strong blue-collar presence with a lot of manufacturing within its 14 square kilometres.
The average number of people in B.C.'s 93 electoral districts is 53,773, making Surrey-Newton one of the most populous ridings.
The riding elected its first MLA in 1986 – Social Credit's Rita Johnston, who later served as premier.
It contains Newton town centre, Strawberry Hill, Highland Creek and Kwantlen Polytechnic University's main Surrey campus within its boundaries, following 80 Avenue in the north and 64 and 68 Avenues to the south, along 144 Street to the east (142 Street between 72 and 68 avenues) and Scott Road to the west from 80 Avenue down to 68 Avenue, where it jogs east to 128 Street then south to 64 Avenue.
