Adam Walker will represent the Parksville-Qualicum riding for the next four years after winning the seat for the NDP in October's election. (submitted/Adam Walker)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

FINAL RESULTS

NDP’s Adam Walker officially elected as new Parksville-Qualicum MLA

Nov 9, 2020 | 11:59 AM

PARKSVILLE — For the first time since 1996, when current Nanaimo mayor Leonard Krog represented the area, Parksville-Qualicum will send an NDP MLA to Victoria.

Adam Walker, a councillor with the Town of Qualicum Beach, was officially declared the winner over incumbent Michelle Stilwell on Saturday, Nov. 7 after more than 13,000 mail-in ballots were counted in the riding.

Walker’s final margin of victory was 2,072 votes or 6.5 per cent. Walker had led by less than 1,000 votes after election night and the riding’s potential to flip was one of the shocks on Oct. 24.

“We were just hopeful,” Walker told NanaimoNewsNOW on the shock win. “When you go into this you don’t go in expecting to win or lose, you go in and give it the best you have and you hope you resonate with your community.”

It helped secure the NDP a significant seat swing and a majority in Victoria for the next four years.

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Outgoing MLA Michelle Stilwell called Walker on Saturday night after results were posted by Elections BC. Walker said she was gracious on the phone and had been a great representative for the region.

“It was nice to have a chat with her one to one, she prepped me with what I can expect and I’m looking forward to working with her for the next couple of days as I transition to lean on her for any advice she might have.”

Walker said he plans to offer his resignation as councillor sometime after voting on the ongoing St. Andrew’s Lodge demolition issue on Friday, Nov. 13.

He said there is no obligation to resign, however he wants to devote all his attention to his role as MLA.

His resignation will trigger a by-election in early 2021 to fill his seat on the five member council.

Final Parksville-Qualicum Results

• Adam Walker (BC NDP): 13,207 (42.0 per cent)
• Michelle Stilwell (BC Liberals): 11,155 (35.47 per cent)
• Rob Lyon (BC Greens): 5,227 (16.62 per cent)
• Don Purdey (Conservative): 1,404 (4.46 per cent)
• John St. John (Independent): 454 (1.54 per cent)
• Total votes: 31,447 (4.87 per cent increase from 2016)

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