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Esquimalt, Saanich polls put Garrison over the top

Randall Garrison’s popularity within Esquimalt and Saanich helped bolster the NDP candidate to a narrow win in the May 2 federal election.

The Esquimalt councillor eked 406 more votes than his Conservative rival Troy DeSouza, who pundits favoured to win Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. Both had campaigned in the federal riding twice before.

While running roughly even in View Royal and Sooke, voters in Esquimalt and Saanich favoured Garrison over DeSouza by more than 3,000 ballots.

DeSouza, whose McKenzie overpass concept may have resonated more with residents on the West Shore, won Colwood and Langford by more than 1,100 votes.

Garrison might have been aided by his presence on Esquimalt’s council, but the same can’t be said for Liberal candidate and Langford councillor Lillian Szpak, who suffered in the broader collapse of the Liberal Party, and fared poorly, even in her home municipally.

NDP vs Conservative

-Esquimalt-JDF vote breakdown by municipality.

Garrison  DeSouza

Colwood  2,157 2,704

Esquimalt 3,552 1,845

Langford 4,324 4,904

Saanich  7,177 5,862

Sooke    2,691 2,536

View Royal 1,655 1,681