INDEPENDENT MLC Kerry Finch has stormed home to victory in the Legislative Council election for the Northern seat of Rosevears. Mr Finch has been returned to parliament for the third time after securing more than 60 per cent of total votes in a two-way race. He beat Liberal candidate Don Morris at every polling place, as well as in pre-poll, postal and mobile votes. The total margin was about 4000 votes. Mr Finch said he was feeling surprisingly calm after the resounding win. He said he would continue to work hard to fight for the issues in which his constituents believed. ``People in the community know I will continue to run issues down for them,'' Mr Finch said. ``It's not just about being elected, it's about following through with the work. I have done that, and I will continue to do that.'' Mr Finch said above all the outcome was a victory for independence of the upper house. ``Its very important we guard the Legislative Council as a house of review,'' he said. ``We've got to work constantly to have it dominated strongly by independent-minded people.'' Mr Finch said he remained disappointed with the ``disgusting and disgraceful'' campaign waged against him by the Liberal Party. ``In many ways the Liberals have chosen to make an enemy of me throughout this campaign,'' he said. ``I've got to dig deep within myself to find the same respect for the government I gave to them throughout their time in opposition.'' Challenger Don Morris congratulated Mr Finch on his substantial victory. ``In an election contest there are one of two results: you win or you lose,'' Mr Morris said. ``It was always going to be very hard to dislodge an independent incumbent as well-known as Mr Finch.'' Mr Morris said the Liberal Party's comprehensive win in the lower house election probably worked against him. ``Perhaps people thought there was limited benefit in electing a Liberal MLC this time around,'' Mr Morris said. ``Maybe they wanted a handbrake on the government of the day.'' He said while the overall result was disappointing, there were some positives to come from his campaign. ``While I wasn't successful, the incumbent has suffered as a significant reduction in his vote [compared to the last Legislative Council election], reflecting a lot of hard work by volunteers on the ground.''
INDEPENDENT MLC Kerry Finch has stormed home to victory in the Legislative Council election for the Northern seat of Rosevears.
Kerry Finch
Mr Finch has been returned to parliament for the third time after securing more than 60 per cent of total votes in a two-way race.
He beat Liberal candidate Don Morris at every polling place, as well as in pre-poll, postal and mobile votes.
The total margin was about 4000 votes.
Mr Finch said he was feeling surprisingly calm after the resounding win.
He said he would continue to work hard to fight for the issues in which his constituents believed.
``People in the community know I will continue to run issues down for them,'' Mr Finch said.
``It's not just about being elected, it's about following through with the work. I have done that, and I will continue to do that.''
Mr Finch said above all the outcome was a victory for independence of the upper house.
``Its very important we guard the Legislative Council as a house of review,'' he said.
``We've got to work constantly to have it dominated strongly by independent-minded people.''
Mr Finch said he remained disappointed with the ``disgusting and disgraceful'' campaign waged against him by the Liberal Party.
``In many ways the Liberals have chosen to make an enemy of me throughout this campaign,'' he said.
``I've got to dig deep within myself to find the same respect for the government I gave to them throughout their time in opposition.''
Challenger Don Morris congratulated Mr Finch on his substantial victory.
``In an election contest there are one of two results: you win or you lose,'' Mr Morris said.
``It was always going to be very hard to dislodge an independent incumbent as well-known as Mr Finch.''
Mr Morris said the Liberal Party's comprehensive win in the lower house election probably worked against him.
``Perhaps people thought there was limited benefit in electing a Liberal MLC this time around,'' Mr Morris said.
``Maybe they wanted a handbrake on the government of the day.''
He said while the overall result was disappointing, there were some positives to come from his campaign.
``While I wasn't successful, the incumbent has suffered as a significant reduction in his vote [compared to the last Legislative Council election], reflecting a lot of hard work by volunteers on the ground.''
