The Liberal MLA elect for the Fraser-Nicola riding is pleased to be ahead but isn’t declaring victory just yet.

After Saturday’s initial count, Jackie Tegart has a lead of 385 votes over NDP candidate Aaron Sumexheltza.

There still an estimated 2,509 mail in ballots that still need to be counted.

“I’ll wait until the count is completed after November 6th. In the meantime, I’ll do some work in the office and get things ready for the next session. We always know the Fraser-Nicola is extremely close. This time around is no different than the last two times I was successful.”

In 2017, Tegart beat out NDP candidate Harry Lali for the seat by 524 votes. She also eclipsed Lali in 2013 by 614 votes. Before that, Lali held the seat from 1991 to 2001, and again from 2005 t0 2013. Liberal David Chutters was the riding’s MLA from 2001 to 2005.

Meanwhile, in regards to this year’s election, Tegart says the Liberals have a lot of work to do after the “orange sweep” in the Lower Mainland.

Pending any changes after mail-in ballots are counted, the Liberals have lost 12 ridings in the Lower Mainland that they held before the election.

“I think everyone in the party knows we have a lot of work to do. When you look at the rural-urban split in British Columbia and the representation, we as a party need to do some reflection. Look at our relevance and how we bring in people who perhaps don’t feel like a part of party right now,” Tegart says.

And on the contrary, Sumexheltza says he thinks John Horgan and the NDP platform resonated with most British Columbians.

He doesn’t think the timing of the election call deterred many voters.

“I believe many people across the province have confidence in the important work that Dr. Bonnie Henry has done. It looks like people are happy with the work John Horgan was doing in the last three-and-a-half years, including during the last many months during the pandemic.”

Sumexheltza says it looks like an uphill battle for him in his own riding against Tegart, but says he’ll wait to see what happens when mail-in ballots get counted.