PC incumbents voted back in

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This article was published 16/09/2019 (2454 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Progressive Conservative incumbent candidates Ralph Eichler for Lakeside, Blaine Pedersen for Midland, and Ian Wishart for Portage la Prairie all celebrated easy wins on Sept. 10.

One of the first candidates to be declared a winner on election night, Eichler is beginning his fifth term as MLA. Eichler won with 6,394 votes, well ahead of his closest competitor, Dan Rugg (NDP) who received 2.054 votes.

Eichler, 69, served as agriculture minister in the last provincial government. While Premier Brian Pallister hasn’t appointed his cabinet yet, Eichler said he’s keen to continue working to generate more investment in Manitoba’s agriculture industry.

He thanks his supporters and said the election results show that Manitobans are behind the changes the government made during its last term.

“It’s a clear message that Manitobans like what we’re doing,” he said.

Pedersen, 65, who lives in Elm Creek, was also re-elected for a fifth term with 6,700 votes. The NDP’s Cindy Friesen received 1,370, and Julia Sisler, representing the Manitoba Liberals, received 860.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to serve the constituents of Midland again,” Pedersen said.
Formerly the Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Pedersen said he can’t say whether or not he will be continuing in that role, but is positive about economic growth in Midland.

“We’ve really got momentum in terms of economic development.”

Wishart, 65, of Portage la Prairie, is starting his third term as Portage MLA. He received 4,489 votes compared to 1,521 for Andrew Podolecki (NDP) and 843 for Charles Huband (MLP).

“I’m honoured to continue to serve the constituents in Portage la Prairie,” he said.

He served as Minister of Education and Training for two years.

With the government’s commission on K to 12 education review still underway, Wishart, who is a commission member, said the report will be presented to the provincial government in December.

The report is non-partisan and won’t contain recommendations, but Wishart said the Pallister government will be working on education issues including its campaign promise to reduce the education tax rate for Manitoba property owners.

He said he started calling for tax reform on farmland when he was Keystone Agricultural Producers president, as the present system isn’t sustainable.

Manitoba Votes 2019 results:

The following are unofficial voting results from Elections Manitoba:

Lakeside:
Ralph Eichler (PC) – 6,394
Dan Rugg (NDP) –  2,054
Ilsa Regelsky (MLP) – 854
Voter turnout was 59.8 per cent.

Midland:
Blaine Pedersen (PC) – 6,700
Cindy Friesen (NDP) – 1,370
Julia Sisler (MLP) – 860
Voter turnout was 62.8 per cent.

Portage la Prairie:
Ian Wishart (PC) – 4,489
Andrew Podolecki (NDP) – 1,521
Charles Huband (MLP) – 843
Voter turnout was 51.8 per cent.

— Staff