He won’t be part of the new BC government, but Kootenay-Monashee Conservative candidate Warren Mirko is pleased his party has won a majority and that he was able to narrow the gap locally with the NDP.
“We knew this was a tough riding from the get go,” Mirko said. “And with only five weeks of a runway to really launch a campaign, bring the team together and get out there on the doors, I knew it was an uphill battle.”
Mirko took about 37 of the vote in falling to incumbent New Democrat Steve Morissette.
“We were able to close the gap with Mr. Morissette by about 28 per cent since the last election,” Mirko said. “I‘m very proud of the work my team and my volunteers did, including my family. To not be able to turn this riding is disappointing, but it’s made up for by the huge success that my party saw throughout the province.”
Mirko said the collapse of the NDP and rise of the Conservatives is a sign the public was looking for change, in urban and rural ridings alike. But he congratulated Morissette on his victory: “I heard nothing but great things about Mr. Morissette at the [constituents’] doors and look forward to having him be our representative.”
Mirko said the local campaign was hard fought, and he put his regular life and job on hold to work seven days a week. It involved a lot of driving, attending events, door knocking, and meeting with constituents — all on short notice, he said.
His loss provincially means that Warfield will not have to hold a by-election to fill the council spot that Mirko won by acclamation. He will be sworn in this week along with the rest of council. However, this might be the last Warfield council, depending on the outcome of an amalgamation study with Trail.
Mirko said he didn’t know if he would run again for higher office, but he doesn’t expect to have to think about it for four years.
“I’ve got a lot to do for Warfield, and I’m pleased that the government has a strong mandate from the public to carry on its work. So I don’t need to look much further ahead than what I’m going to be doing in my community and with my family.”
