How Richmond voted in Liberal leadership race

B.C. Liberal leadership candidates Mike de Jong, Christy Clark, George Abbott and Kevin Falcon are applauded by party members Saturday night in Vancouver.

Boaz Joseph/Black Press

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While Christy Clark won the Liberal leadership contest on Saturday, runner-up Kevin Falcon was the favourite in Richmond's three riding on the first ballot.
Falcon, who was backed by Richmond MLAs John Yap and Rob Howard, received 49 per cent of the first ballot vote in Richmond Centre and 43.2 per cent in Richmond-Steveston. Only Richmond East was close, where Falcon gathered 37.1 per cent to Clark's 36.3 per cent.
Clark was the second choice with most of de Jong's supporters. She leapfrogged past Falcon in Richmond East once votes were redistributed after the first ballot.
On the third and final ballot, Clark won Richmond East with 50.8 per cent, while Falcon had 59.8 per cent of Richmond Centre and 59.6 of Richmond Steveston.
The Liberals used a preferential ballot, where voters got to make second choices, which would be counted if their first choice was eliminated.
While Falcon was backed by two of Richmond's three MLAs (Richmond East MLA Linda Reid, who is deputy speaker, remained neutral), Clark was backed by former Vancouver Fraserview MLA and current Richmond Coun. Ken Johnston. Former Richmonds MLAs Olga Ilich and Greg Halsey-Brandt backed Abbott, who finished behind de Jong in Richmond East.

The first ballot results were:

• Richmond East: Kevin Falcon, 37.1 per cent; Christy Clark, 36.3; Mike de Jong, 17.6, George Abbott, 9.
• Richmond Centre: Kevin Falcon, 49 per cent; Christy Clark, 32.4; George Abbott, 12.4; Mike de Jong, 6.2
• Richmond-Steveston: Kevin Falcon, 43.2 per cent; Christy Clark, 32.2; George Abbott, 20.2; Mike de Jong, 4.4.

Second ballot results:

• Richmond East: Kevin Falcon, 41.3 per cent; Christy Clark, 46.5; George Abbott, 12.2.
• Richmond Centre: Kevin Falcon, 49.8 per cent; Christy Clark, 36.4; George Abbott, 13.8.
• Richmond-Steveston: Kevin Falcon, 43.5 per cent; Christy Clark, 35.2; George Abbott, 21.3.