Douglas West by-election winner Chris Thomas has said he is anxious to get on with the job and start work on the seven-year plan in his election manifesto.
Mr Thomas was elected with 676 votes putting him 277 ahead of his nearest rival John Skinner, when the result was declared at All Saints’ Church Hall on Alexander Drive just before 10pm.
A relieved looking Mr Thomas told constituents friends and family who crowded into the hall to hear the result announced that he was privileged to serve the constituency and thanked everyone for their help and support.
‘It has been a long hard day for everyone,’ he said.
‘And it is also hard to be a public representative and fulfil the expectations of so many people.’
Mr Thomas said he wanted to see as much encouragement as possible given to local businesses and he stressed the importance of local businesses employing local people, particularly in times of financial constraint.
He said he noted 2,400 people in the constituency had not voted at all and a further 600 were absent from the electoral register and were therefore ineligible.
‘These people are not engaged so it is up to me to try to re-engage them,’ he said.
A total of 1,614 people voted in the election, representing a turn-out of 39.7 per cent.
In third place with 300 votes was Clive Dawson and former Rushen MHK Quintin Gill took 229 votes.
