The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
Karwacki, 42, finished third behind NDP incumbent Frank Quennell and Saskatchewan Party candidate Roger Parent.
Karwacki won an even smaller percentage of votes this time around than in 2003. The businessman also failed to get elected in the Weyburn-Big Muddy byelection in 2006.
'We'll pick up the pieces. I'll talk to Liberals and we'll go from there.'—David Karwacki, Liberal leader
Without a seat, he has been limited in what he could achieve from the rotunda of the legislature. In the six years since Karwacki took over the leadership of the Saskatchewan Liberals, the party has failed to elect any MLAs.
In a short speech to supporters, Karwacki pledged that the Liberals will keep fighting, despite their lack of official party status.
"We will, from the sidelines unfortunately, hold this government to account," Karwacki said.
Wednesday's defeat will likely lead to Karwacki's resignation as Liberal party leader.
"We'll pick up the pieces," he said. "I'll talk to Liberals and we'll go from there."
Provincial support drops
During this campaign, Karwacki focused on winning support in a small number of urban constituencies.
One of the Liberals' main platforms was to phase out education property taxes, with the provincial treasury to cover the lost revenue. They aimed to win at least two seats to claw their way back to official party status.
The Liberals' share of the popular vote eroded even further from 14 per cent in 2003 to 10 per cent in this election.
No Liberal, including Karwacki's brother Grant in Saskatoon Nutana, was elected.
It is a crushing result for the former powerhouse party, which won Saskatchewan's first nine elections but was decimated in 2003 when it failed to elect a single member.
Saskatchewan Votes 2007 »
- Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
- Only 10 years into its existence as a political force, the Saskatchewan Party will form a majority government and its leader Brad Wall will be the new premier.
- NDP had a 'good run in government'
- A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.
- Liberals fail again to elect single MLA
- The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
- Shift in urban vote handed seats to Sask. Party
- The seeds of victory were sown in Regina and Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan Party picked up five seats — but there were gains in other urban areas, too, that helped seal the election win.
- NDP holds on in Regina, but loses 3 seats
- Fortress Regina continued to stand for the NDP when the dust of Wednesday's election had settled, though its foundation was shaken by a trio of Saskatchewan Party wins.
Constituency Profiles
More Saskatchewan Votes Headlines »
- Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
- Only 10 years into its existence as a political force, the Saskatchewan Party will form a majority government and its leader Brad Wall will be the new premier.
- NDP had a 'good run in government'
- A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.
- Liberals fail again to elect single MLA
- The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
- Shift in urban vote handed seats to Sask. Party
- The seeds of victory were sown in Regina and Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan Party picked up five seats — but there were gains in other urban areas, too, that helped seal the election win.
- NDP holds on in Regina, but loses 3 seats
- Fortress Regina continued to stand for the NDP when the dust of Wednesday's election had settled, though its foundation was shaken by a trio of Saskatchewan Party wins.
