In an evening filled with close votes and races too tight to call, Liberal MLA Dan Ashton香蕉视频直播檚 re-election never seemed to be in doubt.

Ashton took the lead in the very first poll reporting in, and never lost it. With all the ballots reported, Ashton has a solid grip on the Penticton riding with 13,671 votes, well ahead of NDP candidate Tarik Sayeed at 7,150 votes. Green Connie Sahlmark made a strong showing, with 4,707 votes, accounting for 18.44 per cent of the votes counted.

That香蕉视频直播檚 the best showing the Green Party has made in the Penticton riding. The previous high point was in 2009 when Julius Bloomfield won 15.66 per cent of the vote. Ashton香蕉视频直播檚 53.55 per cent is also a high point, well above the 45. 83 per cent he achieved when he was first elected in 2013, and the highest the Liberals have achieved in the area since the 2001 election, when Bill Barisoff swept the former Penticton-Okanagan Valley riding with 62.73 per cent.

Before the polls closed at 8 p.m. Ashton, the incumbent candidate, admitted to feeling a bit nervous.

香蕉视频直播淚 am on pins and needles, to be frank,香蕉视频直播� he said.

But as the evening wore on and his lead solidified, Ashton thanked his supporters who dropped by the casual gathering in Penticton香蕉视频直播檚 Boston Pizza.

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One of those promises is the expansion to Penticton Regional Hospital, which Ashton says is both a promise kept and a goal for his next term.

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Also important to communities throughout the riding is affordable housing, according to Ashton.

香蕉视频直播淲e are in the process of delivering 179 units here in Penticton. Peachland will be underway very shortly,香蕉视频直播� said Ashton. 香蕉视频直播淲hen we all sit down and work together, we can make these projects deliverable.香蕉视频直播�

Sayeed also praised the work of his supporters.

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Sayeed said he was overwhelmed by the support he received during the campaign, adding that they need to win the younger generation.

Ethan Freistadt is one of those youth, a Summerland Secondary School student who volunteered with Sayeed香蕉视频直播檚 campaign.

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Ashton香蕉视频直播檚 children were also at the party to support him. His son Coleton said he was never worried, but daughter Chantal admitted a little concern.

香蕉视频直播淚t was nerve-wracking,香蕉视频直播� said Chantal. 香蕉视频直播淲e always have faith in him. He香蕉视频直播檚 never lost an election. You can definitely tell his hard work pays off.香蕉视频直播�

Ashton was first elected as Liberal MLA for the Penticton riding in 2013, after serving two terms as Penticton mayor and three terms as a city councillor. Selected as the Liberal candidate after Barisoff retired, Ashton won the 2013 election with 10,487 votes, ahead of NDP challenger Richard Cannings香蕉视频直播� 9,225 votes. Cannings would later run for, and win, the new federal riding of South Okanagan West Kootenay for the NDP.

As MLA, Ashton chaired the Committee on Finance and Government Services, is a member of the Treasury Board and Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Finance. He is also president of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region, a cross-border working group.

Ashton isn香蕉视频直播檛 sure any of those positions will continue in the coming term.

香蕉视频直播淎t this point in time, I am still a candidate until the election is officially declared,香蕉视频直播� said Ashton, who also wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 speculate on whether he might get stepped up in his second term.

香蕉视频直播淚 will be very happy with whatever the premier 香蕉视频直播� appoints me to,香蕉视频直播� said Ashton. 香蕉视频直播淢y first priority is looking after the citizens that I represent.

香蕉视频直播淚 really like good governance, I am not a real big fan of politics. In my mind, all governance is local, and I am going to ensure that is delivered here.香蕉视频直播�