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Nebbeling rides Liberal sweep

While it was hardly a surprise, the Liberal sweep across B.C. Wednesday night was welcomed by West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Ted Nebbeling.

While it was hardly a surprise, the Liberal sweep across B.C. Wednesday night was welcomed by West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Ted Nebbeling.

"I’m kind of happy it’s a big majority because we’ve got such a big job ahead of us," Nebbeling said from his campaign office in West Vancouver.

While results were not final at the time Pique went to press Wednesday, the Liberals under leader Gordon Campbell looked certain to capture more than 75 of the 79 seats in the legislature and nearly 60 per cent of the popular vote.

Nebbeling, who was first elected MLA for West Vancouver-Garibaldi in 1996, held nearly 70 per cent of the vote. Green party candidate Peter Tatroff was a distant second with about 15 per cent, followed by the NDP’s Barrie MacLeod with about 12 per cent and Marijuana party candidate Robert Adam with approximately 3 per cent.

In 1996 Nebbeling captured 56.5 per cent of the vote, while NDP candidate Brenda Broughton received just under 30 per cent of the vote.

Nebbeling noted that under the NDP most of the legislative committees have not met in years. Those committees will be reactivated under the Liberals and back bench MLAs will have plenty to do taking the committees to the people, Nebbeling said.

Nebbeling, who some analysts speculated could be in line for the Municipal Affairs portfolio, said he was particularly proud of the support he received from Squamish in this election.

"I hear that I got all the polls in Squamish. That for me is very rewarding," he said. "Last time I only got two out of 70.

"That for me is confirmation that I’ve been MLA for the whole corridor."

Nebbeling said he was slightly surprised by the showing of Green candidate Peter Tatroff, who took a lot of votes from the NDP’s MacLeod.

"There’s no doubt about it, the NDP is finished for a long time," Nebbeling said.

While the Green party undoubtedly took votes from the NDP in many ridings, the party still has never elected a candidate in B.C. Green party leader Adriane Carr finished third in Powell River-Sunshine Coast, far behind Liberal Harold Long. Incumbent MLA Gordon Wilson finished a distant second in the riding.

Premier Ujjal Dosanjh also appeared to be heading for defeat.

Even before the election was called polls had predicted a massive Liberal majority. The last poll prior to the May 16 election gave the Liberals 61 per cent of the vote.