
BY BILL PHILLIPS
Shirley Bond’s son has a favourite number. It’s five.
“As of tonight, my favourite number is five,” Bond told about 200 Liberal supporters at the Ramada Tuesday as she won her fifth consecutive term in office.
Bond increased her plurality in the Prince George-Valemount riding, securing 58.38 per cent of the vote with 9,353 votes. NDP challenger Natalie Fletcher captured 29.29 per cent of the vote with 4,698 votes while Green Party candidate Nan Kendy secured 1,977 votes or 12.33 per cent of the vote.
With the general election still up in the area and likely a minority government, Bond said having a strong voice from the North is even more important now.
“You’ve seen the map,” she said pointing to the new political landscape of the province. “We’re going to work extraordinarily hard to make sure that we’re going to be government. You can see how hard we’re going to have to work on behalf of northern British Columbia. I promise you we’re going to be a strong voice in Victoria, just like we have been.”
Bond credited her “exceptional” team for her election win.
“You worked your feet off for me,” she said.