KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — Matt MacKay not only held on to his seat in the legislature, he earned more individual votes than any other candidate on Prince Edward Island in Tuesday’s provincial election.
Wednesday morning in Kensington, the town at the heart of District 20 Kensington-Malpeque, the campaign signs displayed a large “THANK YOU” across his photo.
“He works extremely hard for the community. He’s out and about everywhere,” said one Kensington resident.
A livestock farmer from Prince County said people weren’t happy with the last government.
“It’s a sign people want change when you see those big margins,” he said as he loaded a bag of feed onto his pickup truck at the local Co-op the day after the vote.
With 2,008 votes, MacKay lead his closest opponent in the district, Matthew J. MacKay from the Green Party, by over 1,000 ballots. The Progressive Conservative candidate was the only one on the Island to get more than 2,000 votes.
Local resident Roy Paynter agreed the election is the time to make your voice heard.
“If you don’t vote, you don’t get to have a say in what happens,” said Paynter.
“My district, it just wants good, honest representation. They want someone that’s going to work hard for them.”
-Matthew MacKay
Charlene Profitt hasn’t lived in Kensington long, but she noticed her neighbours were satisfied with MacKay’s representation.
Profitt works with long-time resident Cheryl MacInnis in Kensington.
“I’m happy he got back in,” said MacInnis. “He did a good job.”
MacKay said he is grateful for the trust his constituents have placed in him again.
“It felt good throughout the whole campaign, but when we saw started seeing the numbers come out, it was a pretty surreal feeling.”
MacKay has lived and worked in the community his entire life.
He credits his campaign team (“the best political team on the Island,” he called them) and his work in the constituency over the last four years with his success.
His district is known to vote either way.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a political district,” said MacKay. “My district, it just wants good, honest representation. They want someone that’s going to work hard for them.”
There was no particular issue that helped his hard work shine, he said.
“Just being there for the district when they need you.”
