Blue Oxford

Friday, 13 June 2014 00:29

Ernie Hardeman is re-elected as MPP of Oxford; Tim Hudak resigns as PC Leader and a wrap of the local candidates on election night.

OXFORD COUNTY --

Kathleen Wynne's Liberals will form a majority government, but Progressive Conservative stalwart Ernie Hardeman will continue to represent Oxford County.

In an overwhelming vote, incumbent MPP Ernie Hardeman will represent the County of Oxford for a sixth term, and 20th straight year in a row.

Hardeman, surrounded by a group of supporters and his campaign team watched as the Liberal's were voted into a majority government but he says his first priority is running for Oxford. "I don't say well now I was just elected, I can go to Queen's Park because I've been around longer than everyone else so I can kind of sit back and watch it happen -- that's never happened to me before and I can assure you that the day that happens I won't go to Queen's Park anymore because that's what this is all about, the privilege of being able to serve and being able to accomplish some of the things that you really think will make a difference to people and I don't see any suggestion that complacency would set in on this job."

Hardeman received over 46% of the votes in the county and was very thankful to the people of Oxford for giving him the opportunity to serve as MPP once again. "I can't say it was a total surprise but yet it's as surprising as it could be when the first results comes in and it shows you that the spread that's going to be between me and my opponents and you say, how could they do that, I mean they're good people too, how did I get that. It has to be that the performance or the work that I've done over the years that the people are reasonably pleased with what I've been doing and I hope to keep on doing that."

Shortly after the announcement of the Liberal majority government, PC Leader Tim Hudak announced his resignation. "I am proud of what our team has accomplished and I am optimistic about our party's future -- but I will not be leading the Ontario PC party into the next election campaign."

Oxford Liberal candidate Daniel Moulton says in spite the fact he lost to Hardeman, he is happy his party won a majority government. "I am excited about the fact that voters across this province, and everyone here in Oxford that voted for me, recognized the need for a government with a positive, pragmatic plan. One that's going to build Ontario up, not tear it down. A plan for the next ten years, not the last ten years," Moulton said.

Moulton says a Liberal government will invest in "the things that are important to the residents of this community." "Things like good infrastructure, things like good schools and hospitals, and things like a good business climate."

This was Moulton's first campaign and he promises it wont be his last. "I've said every day of the campaign 'win or lose, this would not be my last campaign here in Oxford County.' So I look forward to four years from now when this Liberal government calls the next election, I'll be running again here in Oxford County."

Meanwhile, Oxford NDP candidate Bryan Smith says he is "really very happy about the stand [the NDP] took, and I'm very, very about the way in which we did it."

Smith says the campaign has been a rewarding experience to get out and talk to Oxford residents about a broad spectrum of issues. "I've been doing that already for a long while with the Coalition for Social Justice and so it was natural that I continue to do so."

Oxford Green Party candidate, Mike Farlow said no matter the outcome, he was grateful to participate in the provincial election and felt like he had already won. "To be able to participate in the democratic process when there [are] thousands of people all over the world dying just for the opportunity to select the people that govern them. And here, like I say it comes in the mail," Farlow said.

Oxford Libertarian candidate Devin Wright says he plans to run again, both provincially and federally.

Wright says he settled into the role as the campaign wore on, "first I started off as pretty nervous and scared about going in front of people in the public and talking in front of them. But now I feel a lot more confident."

Freedom Party candidate Tim Hodges says in all of his 15 years in politics, Oxford County voters were by far the most informed he has come across. "They put forward some challenging questions and I was surprised also with how much they had researched about the Freedom Party," Hodges said.

Hodges also plans to run again in Oxford the next provincial election.

On Air Now

Now Playing

Blue Oxford

More from Local News

Comments

Add a comment

Weather

Recently Played

On Air Now

Blue Oxford

Share

More from Local News

Comments

Add a comment

Weather

Recently Played