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Elayne Brenzinger

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Elayne Brenzinger
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Surrey-Whalley
In office
May 16, 2001 – May 17, 2005
Preceded byJoan Smallwood
Succeeded byBruce Ralston
Personal details
Born1951 (age 72–73)
Scotland
Political partyLiberal → Democratic Reform
Spouse
Leo
​
(m. 1981)​
Children3

Elayne Brenzinger (born 1951, in Scotland) was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, serving as a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party from 2001-2005. She was a key figure in the formation of the Democratic Reform British Columbia Party and was its first MLA.

Career

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She was first elected to the Legislative Assembly as a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party in the 2001 provincial election for the riding of Surrey-Whalley. Brenzinger defeated cabinet minister and long time NDP MLA, Joan Smallwood, winning 45.73 percent of the vote.[1] Aside from Brenzinger's term in office, Surrey-Whalley has been a predominantly NDP riding.[2]

She resigned from the Liberal caucus to sit as an independent in March 2004 because of a dispute with the party leadership, including over concerns with the sale of BC Rail to CN.[3][4] She claimed then-premier and party leader Gordon Campbell humiliated her at a caucus meeting in 2003, cursing and yelling at her.[5]

In March 2004, following her departure from the party, she made public allegations of improper conduct against liberal MLA Richard Stewart, claiming he had groped her at a night club in Victoria.[6][7] Stewart was suspended from office,[8] though Brenzinger later retracted the allegations and issued a formal apology.[9][10][11] Stewart retracted his defamation lawsuit after the apology.[12]

She was a key force in the creation of the Democratic Reform BC party, which was officially founded on January 15, 2005, and became its first MLA four days later.[11]

On May 17, 2005, Brenzinger was defeated by New Democratic candidate Bruce Ralston in her Surrey-Whalley riding.

Election results

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2005 British Columbia general election: Surrey-Whalley
Party Candidate Votes %
New Democratic Bruce Ralston 8,903 55.00
Liberal Barbara Steele 4,949 30.57
Green Roy Whyte 1,238 7.65
Democratic Reform Elayne Brenzinger 607 3.75
Marijuana Melady Belinda Earl 302 1.87
Independent Joe Pal 139 0.86
Platinum Neil Gregory Magnuson 50 0.31
Total 16,188 100.00
B.C. General Election 2001: Surrey-Whalley
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
Liberal Elayne Brenzinger 6,693 45.73% $53,614
  NDP Joan Smallwood 4,536 30.99% $42,735
Green Terry McComas 1,652 11.28% – $100
Unity John A. Conway 838 5.73% $2,880
Marijuana Khalid Damien Arnaout 544 3.72% $394
Reform Mike Runté 374 2.55% $7,957
Total valid votes 14,637 100.00%
Total rejected ballots 85 0.58%
Turnout 14,722 66.79%

References

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  1. ^ "RIDING PROFILE: Surrey-Whalley - Surrey Now-Leader". Surrey Now Leader. 2020-10-16. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  2. ^ Zytaruk, Tom (2017-05-10). "ELECTION 2017: Surrey — a city divided - Peace Arch News". Peace Arch News. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  3. ^ Hansard, October 6, 2004, quoted in the BC Legislature Raids blog
  4. ^ Tenove, Chris (2004-03-11). "The Lonely Life of the Independent MLA". The Tyee. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  5. ^ Smyth, Mike; Bailey, Ian (2004-03-21). "MLA calls ugly split with Liberals 'smear campaign'". Edmonton Journal. pp. A5. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  6. ^ Hayes, Kelly (2004-03-30). "Liberal Mudslinging Continues - BC News". www.castanet.net. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  7. ^ "B.C.'s political fringe paints itself as middle-of-road choice". Canadian Press NewsWire. 2004-10-07 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ Rockel, Nick (2004-04-01). "It's question period for the B.C. Liberals". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  9. ^ Foulds, Christopher (2004-05-16). "This MLA's apology just isn't enough". Kamloops This Week. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  10. ^ Meissner, Dirk (2004-05-13). "MLA retracts accusations of lewd conduct". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  11. ^ a b Mickleburgh, Rod (2005-05-27). "No evil doers here, only a farcical MLA". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  12. ^ Willcocks, Paul (2004-05-13). "I was wrong, says Brenzinger, he never touched me". Daily Townsman. p. 3. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
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