: wiovary, te lianens Bligs., Victoria, Bs. Ce V8V 1k4@ Kristiansen topples Brisco By BRENDAN NAGLE Staff Writer Riding a wave of anti-free trade sentiment, New Democrat Lyle Kristiansen toppled Tory incumbent Bob Brisco by a whopping 3,678 votes Monday in the federal election. Kristiansen ended up with 16,446 votes for 46.44 per cent of the popular vote in the Kootenay West-Revelstoke riding. Brisco managed 12,808 votes, or 36.17 per cent of the popular vote. The race was the most lopsided since Brisco and nsen squared off in their first of four election battles in 1979. In the last federal election Brisco beat Kristiansen by 800 votes. Brisco’s support slipped by almost 10 per cent from 1984 when he had 46.12 per cent Kristi of the popular vote, Kristiansen remained consistent with the 45.86 per cent of the popular vote he received in 1984, The big gain in this election was made by Liberal candidate Dr. Garry Jenkins, who nearly doubled his party's vote. Jenkins ended up with 5,485 votes or 15.5 per cent of the popular vote, compared with Liberal Jean Turnbull's 2,941 or eight per cent in 1984. Green Party candidate Michael Brown ended up with 674 votes in total for just 1.9 per cent of the popular vote. Voter turnout was up this year. A total of 35,413 went to the polls on Monday, which was actyally a decrease from the 36,716 who voted in the last election. However, the 35,413 who voted in this election made up about 85.per cent of the 41,613 people on the voters’ list That compares to 81 per cent who voted in 1984 and just 71 per cent who voted in 1980. Kristiansen won 108 of the 171 polls in the riding. All three polls in Robson went to Kristiansen. In the three polling centres — Robson north, Robson centre and Robson south — 409 of the 674 votes cast went to Kristiansen — or 60.6 per cent of the popular vote. Brisco could only managed 180 votes or 26 per cent. A total of 674 of the 841 on the voters’ list in Robson cast a ballot Monday for an 80 per cent turnout. Of the 1,761 people on the voters’ list in north Castlegar, 1,367 votes were cast for a 77 per cent turnout. Kristiansen was on top in all five polls, bringing in a total of 737 votes for 53.9 per cent of the popular vote. Brisco had 440 votes or 32.1 per cent of the popular vote The one poll designated for Castlegar/Paulsen residents gave Brisco the nod with 41 votes to Kristiansen’'s 30. Eight votes went to Liberal candidate Garry Jenkins and Green party candidate Michael Brown received one vote. Some 1,920 of the 2,346 on the voters’ list turned out in South Castlegar — an 81.8 per cent turnout. Kristiansen won four of the seven polls, but the final tally had Brisco beating Kristiansen by a 53-vote margin 871 to 818 WEATHERCAST Vol. 91, No. 94 AS) »» y NS Castlegar News CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1988 Cloudy with snow showers tonight Lows between -2 and -4. Tomorrow will be cloudy with sunny periods. Highs 2-4. Outlook for the weekend is periods of rain and wet snow with lows around | or 2 4 Sections (A, B, C&D) night. Kristiansen swept past Conservative in cumbent Bob Brisco to capture the seat for the second time in the last three elections. CasNewsPhot VICTORY KISS . . . New Democrat Lyle Kristiansen gets congratulatory kiss from wife Vera following Kootenay West-Revelstoke election win Monday INSIDE by Bonne Morgar Kristiansen gives free trade credit Brisco says he won't run again By RON NORMAN Editor The New Democratic Party's overwhelming victory in Kootenay West-Revelstoke Monday marked the end of a political era. The NDP’s Lyle Kristiansen and Conservative Bob Brisco have battled each other for nearly a decade through four federal elections. And it has been a sawoff. Each has won two elections. But Brisco, with wife Sheila and son Jason at his side, told about 60 party supporters crowded into his Castlegar campaign headquarters late Monday night that he does not plan to be around to battle Kristiansen a fifth time. 'm important that we now prepare for the next campaign and a new candidate, because obviously that is what will be the dictate four years down the road.” The 59-year-old Castlegar chiropractor later told reporters his age is against him. “I won't run again . . . I've indicated this is my last hurrah. I think I'd be a fool to run again. This is a job for young men and young women.” Brisco added that he wouldn't want to make the mistake of staying in politics when he was “beyond it physically.” Brisco suffered a serious heart attack earlier this year and was hospitalized for some time. “There's too much of a physical drain if you're going to do the job well, in my view,” he said. “So I think it’s the right time to leave.” Brisco gave no hint of what-lies ahead for him. He may return to his chiropractic practice in Castlegar, however, there is also speculation he may remain in Ottawa in some government capacity. His wife, Sheila, works in External Affairs Minister Joe Political era ends BRISCO with wife Sheila and son Jason A year later, Kristiansen won the first rematch when Clark's government was dumped. However, Brisco emerged on top in 1984 when Brian Mulroney and the Tories swept into power. Brisco said in looking back, he views his performance over the last four years in which he was a part of a majority government and able to bring a considerable amouftt of federal funding into the riding as his most satisfying. “I'm only sorry that I won't have that opportunity over the next four years, because I have had such a deep regard for this riding and its Municipal elections page A7 By BONNE MORGAN Staff Writer New Democrat Lyle Kristiansen credited the unpopularity of the free-trade agreement and a lack of faith in the government for his land. slide victory Monday. “I'm sure that the people in the West Kootenay just didn't like the idea of the Mulroney trade agree- ment,” he told reporters at the Lottery numbers The winning numbers — Tusedey in The Pick totte , 2, 10, 13, 20, 32, United Steelworkers of America Local 480 Hall in Trail following his election win Monday night. Kristiansen said he wasn't sur- prised at his consistent lead as voting results which came in from different polling stations. “A tremendous amount of long. time Conservatives” indicated they would be voting NDP in this federal election, he said. “Just as crucial for some of them, they were going to stay at home because they found that what the increase page A2 government was doing was contrary to everything that they thought the Conservative party stood for,” he added. Kristiansen arrived at the gather. ing of supporters to find a celebration in full swing. The total at the front of the hall showed Kristiansen almost 3,000 votes ahead of Conservative Bob Brisco after 109 of the 171 polls had been counted. But the mood of those gathered in the hall earlier in the evening was glum. After the polls closed at 8 p.m. about a dozen people gathered Sunfest theme page A4 = | around a small black and white television set to hear of Conservative sweeps in Eastern Canada. It wasn't until the results of the first 10 local polls showing Kristiansen over 200 votes ahead of Brisco that the mood changed. By the time Kristiansen arrived just after 9 p.m., the gathering had swelled from about 20 somber sup- porters to almost 100 ready for a vietory party. Kristi was cautious about ac- cepting victory and waited about a half an hour before making an accep- tance speech. “In each of the elections I've run in I've been declared a winner by both television networks,” he explained. Kristiansen shared his victory with his campaign staff and sup porters, crediting their hard work for his win. He also pointed to strong union support. “They delivered the goods and let their members decide what was before them, let them figure it out,” he said, referring to area unions. He pledged his dedication to work for the constituency, “from labor and management and everybody in be tween,” noting that a majority Con servative government will present a challenge for the New Democratic Party. “My mandate obviously, and the mandate of other New Democrats in British Columbia and Saskatchewan in particular is that we have to try to get a few more safeguards in that (free-trade) agreement,” he said. Kristiansen was positive about NDP gains in Western Canada this election, noting the NDP earned a seat in Alberta for the first time in the history of the party Kristiansen said his first order of business as member of Parliament will be to establish constituency of- fices, indicating at least two would be needed to represent the area. “Because of the nature of the riding now, we will have an office in Revelstoke as well as at the southern end of the riding Kristiansen also took the oppor tunity to reward one of the senior members of his campaign, hinting that Dale Vannelli will be working with him in Ottawa “I suspect Dale will be going back to Ottawa. He has been working for (NDP leader) Ed Broadbent for the last couple of years and I hope he'll be working for me on behalf of the continued on page A2 Clark's office. people.” Brisco began his political career 16 years ago when he was nominated as the Conservative candidate in 1972. He suffered defeat in his first outing to long-time NDP MP Ran Harding. But two years later, in 1974, he tasted victory. He was re-elected in 1979 when Joe Clark formed a minority Conservative government. It was also the first time he and Kristiansen squared off. Cominco’'s lead smelter modernization as a highlight of the four years. It was truly a major selling job.” Conservative party's B.C. caucus opposed to the aid He cited the $79 million in federal aid for “It was truly a very, very complex undertaking. Brisco said he started out with most of the continued on page A2 Jenkins disappointed ‘I know we're all sort of disap- pointed tonight because we have a majority Conservative government,” he told the crowd in his speech. “And I guess I'm kind of disappointed, too, The election had long been over nationally when Liberal supporters began filtering in to Kootenay West-Revelstoke Liberal headquar. ters in Trail Monday night. The mood was upbeat but subdued as Garry Jenkins’ supporters awaited local re- turns, knowing the results would have little effect on the overall outcome because a Conservative. majority -had already been estab lished by the time polls had closed in B.C. As the results started trickling in, it was apparent that Jenkins and the Liberal party were going to place third in the riding behind Tory incumbent Bob Brisco and New Democrat Lyle Kristiansen. But Jenkins appeared at ease as the evening wore on. It was his first attempt at getting elected in federal polities. because we've as a constituency basically sentenced ourselves to about four years of very little in this constituency.” Jenkins thank& his campaign staff “who worked tirelessly throughout the campaign” as the crowd ap plauded. “Even people on the street ac. knowledged the presence of Liberals and the fact that we really are now a very viable alternative to the other two parties in this riding,” he said to the cheering crowd. “I think we should look forward to in the next four years working at it and the next election we might even win.” While Jenkins and the Liberal party had a far better showing in this riding compared to 1984 when the Liberals’ Jean Turnbull finished with By 10 p.m. Jenkins conceded de feat and delivered his speech to about 35 hangers-on at his Trail campaign headquarters, but not before campaign manager Tom Esa kins had turned off Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's televised accep tance speech. “Does anyone want to listen to him?” Esakins asked, peinting to Mulroney on the TV set at the front GARRY JENKINS leadership change? of the office. “No,” was the re sounding chorus from the Jenkins faithful as Mulroney was quickly switched off While Jenkins was never favored to win the riding, he still expressed disappointment at his defeat eight per cent of the popular vote compared with Jenkins’ 16 per cent, he said there is still room for im provement. “It wasn't quite as close as I would have liked,” he told reporters after his speech. “But I think the per- centages are such that it encourages continued on page A2