Image: Ernest Robertson / Newly elected Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs is pictured during an election night party with Chilliwack-Cultus Lake MLA-elect Á’a:líya Warbus. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Provincial election

Newly elected Chilliwack MLA says voters wanted change, right from their doorsteps

Oct 21, 2024 | 1:30 PM

CHILLIWACK — Newly elected Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs says she heard similar themes brought up repeatedly by Chilliwack residents when she was out door knocking as a B.C. Conservative Party candidate in the lead-up to Saturday’s provincial election.

Those two main concerns revolved largely around public safety, including open drug use and addiction issues, and affordability.

“During the campaign I heard from community members regarding their concerns over numerous issues. Two main concerns were mentioned over and over again when I was out door knocking,” said Maahs. “They were, one, drugs/addiction/increased crime crisis, and second, affordability. Families are struggling to make ends meet with the increased cost of living. Many in our community said they believe that we cannot keep doing things the way we are, and believe that both common sense and change are essential if we are going to make a positive difference in our province.”

From the moment election results began rolling in shortly after 8 p.m., it became clear that one-term Chilliwack MLA Dan Coulter, who was Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit, would not be returning to office. Maahs wound up winning by over 3,700 votes with 55.05 per cent of the vote, versus Coulter’s share of the vote 37.25 per cent. Coulter’s vote share dropped four per cent compared to October 2020 when he was first elected.

“I believe that those who supported me know my work as a School Trustee and believe that I will advocate on their behalf as MLA,” Maahs said.

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Fraser Valley Today reached out to the B.C. NDP communications caucus three times requesting comment from both Coulter and Chilliwack MLA Kelli Paddon on election night, regardless of the election outcome, but received no official quote from either elected official. While Paddon has issued a statement of gratitude on Facebook to her supporters, Coulter has not issued any statements on either Facebook or Twitter. Fraser Valley Today has contacted Coulter on both Twitter and Facebook but has yet to hear back as of Monday at 1:40 p.m. Coulter repeatedly utilized Facebook and Twitter with multiple social media posts in the lead-up to the election.