By Casey Neill
Bridget Vallence is officially the member for Evelyn following the 24 November State Election.
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) declared her the electorate’s new MP with 52.65 per cent of the vote after preferences were distributed.
The Liberal Party candidate picked up 19,752 votes after preferences, compared to Australian Labor Party hopeful Gail Ritchie’s 17,764 (47.35 per cent).
Ms Vallence picked up 49.49 per cent of first preference votes, or 18,566, while Ms Ritchie was on her heels with 40.42 per cent, or 15,166.
Greens candidate Brodie Everist received 10.09 per cent of first preference votes, or 3786.
Ms Vallence steps into the shoes of retired Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe.
“It’s incredibly humbling to have faith placed in me by the voters of the Evelyn district in electing me as their new State Member of Parliament,” she said.
“It’s a great honour and an enormous privilege.”
Ms Vallence said this was a magnificent part of Victoria with a wonderful community that had so much to be proud of.
“Locally, there is much to be done,” she said.
“I won’t waste a day: I’ll work hard to represent our community in State Parliament and advocate for my election commitments to be funded by the government – especially traffic lights at Killara Road, Coldstream, support for local Autism Services, and more local police and PSOs.”
Ms Vallence congratulated Ms Ritchie and Mr Everist on their campaigns.
“What matters most is that government listens to people and responds to their concerns in a meaningful way,” she said.
“I look forward to representing our whole community – I will listen and work hard to achieve outcomes that meet local needs.”
Ms Ritchie congratulated Ms Vallence.
She noted that the ALP achieved a significant swing both in first preference and two party preferred results – about six per cent compared to the 2014 results and “the biggest we’ve seen in Evelyn for quite a while and above the state average swing”.
“Thank you so much for all your help and encouragement,” she said.
“What a wonderful outcome for the Andrews Government.
“The election results absolutely confirm that Victorians value a government that stands for a fair go for everyone and investment in the future.”
