Sharon Hartwell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Sharon Hartwell
MLA
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Bulkley Valley-Stikine
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 19, 2024
Preceded byNathan Cullen
Mayor of Telkwa
In office
1995–2009
Personal details
PartyBC Conservative (since 2024)
Other political
affiliations

Sharon L. Hartwell MLA is a Canadian politician who has been serving as member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia since 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, she represents the riding of Bulkley Valley-Stikine. She previously served as the mayor of Telkwa, British Columbia from 1995 to 2009.[1][2]

Early life and career

[edit | edit source]

Hartwell was born and raised in the Bulkley Valley. She has two sons, who also live in the region.[1] Hartwell was a business owner dedicated to her communities, which led to her start in politics.[1]

Between then 2009 British Columbia general election and her 2023 nomination for the 2024 British Columbia general election, she lived in Alberta for eight years.[3]

Political career

[edit | edit source]

Municipal politics

[edit | edit source]

Hartwell as served in the public service for over 20 years. Her involvement began when she served a term and a half as a village councillor for Telkwa, British Columbia,[4] after which she served as mayor from 1995 through 2009.[3][5]

During her tenure she served as the Small Community Representative for the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) successfully lobbying for a grant process that improved the relationship between the municipalities and the provincial and federal governments.[1]

She was also elected to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) where she participated in the Rural Forum successfully advocating for improvements to the infrastructure formula for rural communities across Canada.[1] She also became the Vice-Chair of Transportation and Infrastructure for FCM where she oversaw airport-related matters. As Vice-Chair she also joined the Rail Safety Committee which addressed rail safety issues across Canadian communities, and the Environment Committee which explored technological solutions.[1]

In addition to her involvement in UBCM and FCM, she has sat on the Northern Health Board for almost eight years,[6] and has served as the chair of the North West Regional Hospital District improving healthcare delivery by initiating the Northern Health Connections Bus program to provide transportation for medical appointments, and oversaw the construction of a new hospital in Masset.[4][1]

Hartwell also founded Team BC, a program celebrating small and rural communities. This program became a success with 82 participating communities, who had their unique attributes highlighted and celebrated.[1][7]

Provincial politics

[edit | edit source]

Hartwell first ran provincially in the 1996 British Columbia general election as a member of the Progressive Democratic Alliance for the riding of Bulkley Valley-Stikine.[8]

Hartwell ran once again in the 2013 British Columbia general election as the BC Liberal candidate for the Bulkley Valley-Stikine riding.[9] She lost to NDP incumbent Doug Donaldson.[5]

In November 2023, Hartwell was nominated as the Conservative Party of BC's candidate for Bulkley Valley-Stikine in the 2024 British Columbia general election.[3] She went on to receive over fifty per cent of the vote, winning a seat in the BC Legislative Assembly, and upsetting NDP incumbent and cabinet minister Nathan Cullen.[2][10][11] Hartwell currently sits in the official opposition's shadow cabinet as the Critic for Rural Communities and Rural Development.[1]

Political controversies

[edit | edit source]

Hartwell called for Bonnie Henry's firing as BC's provincial health officer for her actions during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia such as supporting the COVID-19 vaccine. In 2024, Hartwell was criticized for describing Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, organizers of the Freedom Convoy, as "an inspiration".[12]

In February 2024, Hartwell replied "Yes" to a Twitter post asking if "Democrats cheated and that President Donald Trump won the last election?"[12] Furthermore, she has endorsed Canada's withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the United Nations.[5]

Electoral record

[edit | edit source]
2024 British Columbia general election: Bulkley Valley-Stikine
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Sharon Hartwell 4,992 52.31 – $34,154.30
New Democratic Nathan Cullen 3,709 38.86 −12.91 $42,557.85
Green Gamlakyeltxw Wilhelm Marsden 604 6.33 – $889.70
Christian Heritage Rod Taylor 239 2.50 −8.98 $8,901.96
Total valid votes/expense limit 9,544 99.74 – $71,700.08
Total rejected ballots 25 0.26 –
Turnout 9,569 64.24 +14.11
Registered voters 14,895
Conservative gain from New Democratic Swing +32.61
Source: Elections BC[13][14]
2013 British Columbia general election: Stikine
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Doug Donaldson 4,074 47.10 –3.3 $49,856
Liberal Sharon Hartwell 3,167 36.61 –8.49 $45,162
Conservative Jonathan Dieleman 533 6.16 – $6,706
Christian Heritage Rod Taylor 514 5.94 – $14,482
Green Roger Benham 303 3.50 –0.9 $480
Independent Jesse OLeary 59 0.68 – $380
Total valid votes 8,662 100.00 –
Total rejected ballots 35 0.40 -0.7
Turnout 8,697 62.82 -2.48
Registered voters 13,845
Source: Elections BC[15][16]
1996 British Columbia general election: Bulkley Valley-Stikine
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Bill Goodacre 4,779 37.02 +3.05 $19,497
Liberal Pat Beach 3,726 28.87 −2.69 $28,587
Reform Bill Zemenchik 3,473 26.91 – $26,855
Progressive Democrat Sharon L. Hartwell 624 4.83 – $2,926
Social Credit Peter Barendregt 155 1.20 – $2,481
Green Stuart Hertzog 151 1.17 – $997
Total valid votes 12,908 100.00
Total rejected ballots 52 0.40
Turnout 12,960 71.05

See also

[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
[edit | edit source]
Retrieved from "http://70.231.62.181/index.php?title=Sharon_Hartwell&oldid=24776192"