An ecstatic Shirley Bond enters the PG Liberal post-election party with Mike Morris and, her husband Bill Bond

Prince George, BC – To chants of "four more years", Prince George Liberal candidates Shirley Bond, Mike Morris, and their families, entered a ballroom packed with party supporters at the Coast Inn of the North. (click on photo at right for video clip)

While the final numbers are yet in, Bond is headed for a rare fourth term as MLA, while Morris will begin his first term, as the Liberals appear headed for another majority government.

"Tonight is about never, ever giving up," Bond told the cheering crowd.  "If we had believed in those polls, instead of believing in ourselves – where would we be tonight?"  She said her team was motivated, but the motivation kicked into high gear when a reporter in Prince George told a national newspaper that she had a three-in-ten chance of winning the riding.

"You know, when you put your name on a ballot – it’s exciting.  And then you do it again, and you do it a third time, and then people think you’ve lost your mind when you do it a fourth time," she said, especially when the polls, political pundits and media predicted the Liberals would be wiped out.  But she attributed her drive, and her success, to her supportive family and her great campaign team

The MLA-elect for Prince George-Valemount says she’s so gratified by tonight’s results and says she continue to work extremely hard for her constituents – both those who voted for her, and those who didn’t. 

For his part, newcomer Mike Morris will now represent the riding of Prince George-Mackenzie – where he is a past President of the local riding association.  Morris says he was questioned about why he joined a ‘sinking ship’ at the beginning of the election campaign.  "Well, this ship wasn’t sinking," he told the boisterous crowd.  "We were sitting a little low in the water, there’s no question about it, but we got a whole big brand new team together, we’ve got some great veterans helping us and this ship is floating better."

He says he now has some ‘very big shoes to fill’, in the riding where veteran MLA, Pat Bell, chose not to run due to health concerns.  Morris says Bell has been a tremendous support leading up to the election and he looks forward to their continued friendship and Bell’s mentoring.

"We’re going to continue what Pat started and we’re going to build on and make Prince George-Mackenzie even grander and make this province the star icon of all of Canada."