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WHIIBY FREE PRESS, MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1985, PAGE 1Il May... Ashle is re-elected George Ashe bas been re-elected to his fourtb terrn as the Progressive Conservative MPP for Durham West. Shortly after the polIs closed last Tbursday it became obvious that the Minister of Energy was successful in bis bld for re-election despite a strong sbowing by Liberal candidate Brian Evans. Ashe was returned to Queen's Park with a vote of 18,684. Evans came second with 14,348. However, Ashe's 1981 plurality of 9,583 was cul in haif by the Grits to 4,336. Whle he was ob- viously pleased that he was re-elected, Ashe was disturbed by is party's relatively poor sbowing. Under Premier Frank Miller, the Toriles went from 70 seats to 52 in the Legislature, just four more than those now held by the Liberals un- der David Peterson. Before beginning to explain bis own party's performance, Ashe took time to congratulate both Evans and NDP standardbearer Don Stewart for waging an excelent campaign. "My local opponents put on an excellent campaign," be said, "I don't think that there's ever been a botter cam- paign in Durhami West." The 52-year old Pickeing resident ad- mitted that botb tbe separate school funding issue and the "peek-a- boo" campaign of Premier Miller hurt the Toriles. 111 think that if there was any one single issue that we got tarnisbed witb it was the separate school funding," Ashe said adding that it was the issue be had to deal witb most often when talking to his con- stituents. Part of the respon- sibility for tbe party's relatively poor showing, Ashe maintains, blongs to the central campaign committee. Minier, be said, is a warm, affable person who responds well to and is generally liked by the people he meets. The central campaign organizers, Ashe claimed, should have taken advantage of that from the time the writ was banded down. Hiding the premier from the press and the public during the first three weeks of the cam- paign did nothing to help the governmnent's cause. Voters in Ontario saw Miller "to little, too late," he added. *'The central campaign has to take some of the respon- sibility." Ashe also admitted that if former Premier Bill Davis was still at the belm, the party might have fared better. Davis, he said, could have turned the separate school issue in- to a cause more accep- table to the voters. Davis was "very popular" with the or- dinary voter who really didn't get the chance to May-On 56 % Cast ballot ust over 56 per cent Pike said that of the out of 56.4 per cent. of the voters in Durhami West turned out to vote in last Tbursday's provincial election, returning officer Shirley Pike said Monday mor- ning. 75,778 eligible voters in the riding, which in- cludes the towns of Whitby, Ajax and Pickeing, 42,726 cast their ballots for a turn- The reîurning officer noted that in the 1981 election, Durham West bad just over 58,000 eligible voters and a turn-out of about 57 per cent. see the real Frank Miller in this campaîgn. As far as his local campaign is concerned, Ashe said 'we did everything just about right" although he was obviously disappointed at the loss of his plurality. With four weeks to go until polling day, aIl three of the major parties fielding candidates were gearing up for the push to attract new support from local residents. jThe first item on both George Ashe's and Brian jEvan's agendas was the officiai opening of their Spot checks working The Whitby OPP's an- ti-impaired spot check program appears to be working. Police stopped 181 vehicles during the week ending Dec. 23 and found only one impaired driver. While theres special emphasis on catching campaigi In the Progress cuts the paign offi of the par das St. W drunk drivers during the holiday season, OPP Sergeant William Han- na said the number of impaired charges has been' down ail year. "Every year for the last tiree years, 'the numn- bers have dropped. It's encouraging," he said. ;n headquarters. e photo above, Ashe, the incumbont ive Conservative MPP for Durham West, ribbon to officially open his Whitby cam- fice surrounded by a small but vocal group rty faithful. His office is located at 109 Dun- C:9 \Hope the coming ear brings you health & prosperity. Here's to a good start and a happy ending. 1220 Dundas St. E Whitby / Ji