Gudie Hutchings clinches Long Range Mountains for Liberals

Political newcomer Gudie Hutchings has swept to a landslidevictory for the Liberals in the riding of Long Range Mountains, capturing 73.9per cent of the vote.

"A huge thank you. An enormous thank you,"Hutchingstold a crowd of supporters in the ballroom of Corner Brook'sGlynmillInn Monday night.

"I'm so humbled, with the numbers that we've seen come up on the screen,"

Hutchingscreditedcontinuous travelling on the campaign trail for her huge margin of victory.

"We were in every single community in this district, we did a lot of booting around, a lot of travelling," Hutchings told reporters.

"If I'm going tobe elected by a district, Iwant to be able to saythat I've been everywhere, spoken to peopleeverywhere, and knocked on a lot of doors everywhere.And it's from the whole district."

Hutchings said she plans to maintain several offices in the riding, including in Stephenville and Corner Brook.

Learning on the job

Hutchings, who hadnever run for political office before,admittedthere will be a learning curve upon arrival inOttawa.

"I'll learn. My motto is you learn something new everyday," said Hutchings.

"If I didn't think I was up to the challenge, I wouldn't have put my name forth."

The riding, formerly known as Humber-St.Barbe-Baie Verte, has long been a Liberal one Liberal Gerry Byrne stepped down in June after 19 years as MP to run in provincial politics, and endorsed Hutchings upon his departure.

'Forewarned' of change

Conservative Wayne Ruth, a long-time municipal politician from Kippens, came in second with 12.1 per cent of the vote.

Ruth said while knocking on doors, it was clear many voters wouldn't endorse his party.

"There were a number of occasions, that people indicated they liked my resume, they liked my background.But you know, it was time for a change in Ottawa. It was almost like i was being forewarned that change was coming," said Ruth.

"That's where I feel I lost my vote."

Also in the Long Range Mountains race were the NDP'sDevon Babstock, who captured 11.3 per cent of the vote, and the Green Party's Terry Cormier, with 2.7 per cent.