Saanich North and the Islands results: Holman takes riding for NDP

Decision BC: Popular vote breakdown

In his second try for the seat, Gary Holman has taken Saanich North and the Islands for the NDP.

Holman came up 245 votes short to former Liberal cabinet minister Murray Coell in 2009. In theory he had an easier task this time as Coell decided not to run, but the race was once again tight.

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Holman won 33.2 per cent of the vote as of 11:36 p.m. election night, to Liberal Stephen Roberts’ 33 per cent. Green candidate Adam Olsen came a close third, with 31.9 per cent of the vote.  Only a few hundred votes separated the top three candidates.

This riding, represented federally by Green MP Elizabeth May, was thought to be one of the Green Party’s best chances at a seat in the B.C. legislature.

Holman is an economist who has worked on resource and land use issues throughout B.C. He is also the former regional director for Salt Spring Island and the founder of the Salt Spring Island Water Council.