Makowsky blocks Yates from legislature
Sask. Party MLA and Saskatchewan Roughrider Gene Makowsky poses with Sask. Party supporter Tim Hunter at the Sask. Party election party on Nov. 7, 2011. Photo by Taylor Shire
by Taylor Shire
Gene Makowsky is new to this kind of victory.
The longtime Saskatchewan Roughrider offensive lineman is the new Sask. Party MLA in the Regina Dewdney riding.
“It still feels good. I am obviously a rookie at this so it’s a little different. Winning the Grey Cup, it took me 13 years to get to that point so I guess it’s a little different. But no, it feels good,” said Makowsky, who won a Grey Cup with the Roughriders in 2007.
“It’s two different games. It’s nice to get a big victory,” said Makowsky after hearing of the election results.
“Anytime you win and put a lot of hard work and effort into something and it comes to fruition with your team, it’s a great feeling.”
Makowsky watched the results with his family at the campaign office in Regina. He beat out incumbent NDP candidate Kevin Yates by 1,836 votes. Makowsky received 42 per cent of the votes (4,373) to Yates’ 24 per cent (2,537). Liberal candidate Robin Schneider came in third with 175 votes, followed by Green Party candidate Darcy Robilliard with 142.
“It was exciting to see the numbers as they came up. We knew it’d be a very tough battle,” said Makowsky. “That seat has been a longtime NDP stronghold.”
Makowsky said the victory hasn’t quite sunk in yet.
“It’ll be a steep learning curve for myself but I plan to bring that hard work I brought to the football field to the legislature and represent my constituents well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yates gave credit to Makowsky and his hard work he put in his campaign.
“Obviously the people are never wrong,” said Yates. “The reality is that there was a province-wide change in electoral preference and that was the impact.”
It looks like Yates has reached the end of his political career.
“I think the electorate made that decision for me tonight,” he said. “It is not my intention at this point to look at running again.”
As for Makowsky, his political career starts now.
“We worked very hard before this, but the hard work continues after you do get a win. There’s no off season now after a big win,” he said.
Makowsky plans to bring issues like health care and affordable housing to the legislature. He also said highway improvements and traffic congestion are important matters to look at.
“There’s certainly a long list of things we have to address in the East part of Regina,” said Makowsky. “I am looking forward to start to work on those and try and find some solutions.”
Makowsky was hesitant to comment on his future in football.
“I’m going to enjoy this tonight and not talk too much about football. That’ll be announced in the next little while here but tonight is about the Sask. Party win and certainly not about me,” he said.