Ida Chong held on for a fourth term in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, surging ahead after a close race with Jessica Van der Veen of the NDP.

The riding has been solidly in Liberal hands for the past 12 years, all of them with Chong as MLA. She said she wasn’t surprised at the tight vote, pointing out that she won by only 640 votes back in 1996 and had another strong NDP challenge in 2005.

“I knew this would be close and on the doorstep I was telling everybody that every vote counts. I’ve lived here all my life and I do know the area.”

Chong said Oak Bay-Gordon Head is a “swing riding” where the election results tend to be close.

Prior to Chong’s first term, the riding was held by the NDP’s Elizabeth Cull from 1991-96. Oak Bay-Gordon Head is a relatively affluent riding, with an average income well above the provincial average, and is home to more people aged 65 and older than many other jurisdications around the province.

Chong has served in a number of cabinet posts, and prior to the election was minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, and minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific initiative.

She cut her political teeth as a member of Saanich council.

NDP challenger Jessica Van der Veen became a candidate after helping with efforts to fight school closures and the sale of school property through a group called LANDS, or Let’s Agree Not to Dispose of Schools. During the election campaign, she maintained that funding cuts to the public-education system are affecting the University of Victoria and Camosun College, both of which have a presence in the riding.

One of Chong’s main messages was that the Liberals are the party that is best able to deal with economic issues. She said the economy was a big topic when she knocked on doors throughout the campaign.

Van der Veen said the main discussion points she encountered were health issues and seniors’ care.

Green party candidate Steven Johns brings a long-held interest in politics to his run for office. Among the top issues for him are health care and the environment. He also espoused giving more attention to facilities for youth in the Oak Bay-Gordon Head riding.

jwbell@tc.canwest.com