*with files from Jordan MacKinnon and Bob Montgomery
Lisa Thompson was first elected in 2011 and then again in 2014.
But this time around, she saw her biggest win earning 52.36% of the vote in Huron-Bruce. She finished well ahead of her closest competitor, Jan Johnstone of the NDP. Liberal candidate Don Matheson finished third in voting.
"This election was awesome," said Thompson. "I've never had more people come to my door as I am parked at a grocery store, or leave notes on my windshield, or give me the thumbs up when they were passing me. The support was there. Huron-Bruce recognized the work I have done over the last six and a half years and I am so humbled they have given me another mandate to go back to make sure our issues and our priorities are front of mind."
But there are pressing issues including natural gas infrastructure and hospital work in Kincardine.
"We need to make sure we don't lose anytime with that natural gas expansion into the Kincardine region. Another thing is we have a family health team down in Zurich that is running out of funds and they can't get doctors. We need some action to help keep that family health team to stay in Zurich," exclaimed Thompson.
And as for a possible cabinet post, being one of the veteran MPP's, Thompson reiterated whatever is best for the team.
"I'll be pleased to serve in whatever role they ask me to. I'm very proud to be from Huron-Bruce and be a rural MPP in the next PC government."
In Port Elgin, Don Matheson says it was an uphill battle from the start, as he finished a distant third-place in the riding.
He says voters had been told to seek change and that's what they are getting.
"The people of Ontario spoke, they said a long time ago that they wanted a change, and they got it," said Matheson.
Matheson says he's worried what the next four years will look like under a P.C. majority government.
"When you say you're going to find efficiencies, efficiencies to me means cuts and when we look back at previous governments when they try to find cuts, the two biggest areas they look at are education and health care," said Matheson. "We cannot afford to be taking money out of these two areas, we're just getting them back to where they need to be."
Huron-Bruce Liberal candidate Don Matheson delivers his concession speech at his election night party in Port Elgin. (Photo by Jordan MacKinnon)
As for his own future, Matheson says he will be back in the classroom on Monday at Saugeen District Secondary School, and could be right back on the campaign trail, as he says he will decide shortly if he will run in Saugeen Shores in this fall's municipal election.
