In an evening filled with close votes and races too tight to call, Liberal MLA Dan Ashton害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚 am on pins and needles, to be frank,害羞草研究所� he said.

But as the evening wore on and his lead solidified, Ashton thanked his supporters who dropped by the casual gathering in Penticton害羞草研究所檚 Boston Pizza.

害羞草研究所淚 am not here because of me, I am here because of each and every one of you,害羞草研究所� said Ashton. 害羞草研究所淲hen you make a promise and you deliver, it makes such a big difference.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 want to get this hospital finished,害羞草研究所� said Ashton, explaining its importance to the whole South Okanagan Similkameen. 害羞草研究所淚 want to be sure it is finished to how we promised it would be finished.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淲e are in the process of delivering 179 units here in Penticton. Peachland will be underway very shortly,害羞草研究所� said Ashton. 害羞草研究所淲hen we all sit down and work together, we can make these projects deliverable.害羞草研究所�

Sayeed also praised the work of his supporters.

害羞草研究所漈his election was about building a better B.C. for every one of us,害羞草研究所� said Sayeed. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 proud of all the work we害羞草研究所檝e done.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 campaign.

害羞草研究所淭he whole experience of helping out on the campaign was beneficial for us all,害羞草研究所� said Freistadt, echoed by a fellow SSS volunteers, Sarah Gottwald.

害羞草研究所淚t broke us all out of our little shells.害羞草研究所�

Ashton害羞草研究所檚 children were also at the party to support him. His son Coleton said he was never worried, but daughter Chantal admitted a little concern.

害羞草研究所淚t was nerve-wracking,害羞草研究所� said Chantal. 害羞草研究所淲e always have faith in him. He害羞草研究所檚 never lost an election. You can definitely tell his hard work pays off.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檛 sure any of those positions will continue in the coming term.

害羞草研究所淎t this point in time, I am still a candidate until the election is officially declared,害羞草研究所� said Ashton, who also wouldn害羞草研究所檛 speculate on whether he might get stepped up in his second term.

害羞草研究所淚 will be very happy with whatever the premier 害羞草研究所� appoints me to,害羞草研究所� said Ashton. 害羞草研究所淢y first priority is looking after the citizens that I represent.

害羞草研究所淚 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.害羞草研究所�