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Maria Fitzpatrick

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Maria Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick in May 2015
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Lethbridge-East
In office
May 5, 2015 – March 19, 2019
Preceded byBridget Pastoor
Succeeded byNathan Neudorf
Personal details
Born (1949-02-18) February 18, 1949 (age 75)
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Political partyAlberta New Democratic Party
Residence(s)Lethbridge, Alberta
OccupationCorrections officer, athlete

Maria Michelle Fitzpatrick (born February 18, 1949) is a Canadian politician who was elected in the 2015 Alberta general election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Lethbridge-East.[1]

Early life

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Fitzpatrick was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. She is a former sprinter who competed in the Canada Summer Games, Canadian Track and Field Championships, National University Indoor Championships, Halifax Highland Games, Antigonish Highland Games, and Royal Canadian Legion Provincial Championships. In 1969, she was named the Athlete of the Year for St. John's. She later coached various track and field teams in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Alberta. In 2005, she was named to the Newfoundland and Labrador Athletics Association Hall of Fame. Fitzpatrick is a trustee on the Lethbridge Labour Council, vice president of the Canadian Federation of University Women, and chair of the regional women's committee of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. She worked for 32 years with the Correctional Service of Canada, most recently as a project officer.[2][3]

Political career

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In November 2015, during debate on a private member's bill to improve supports for victims of domestic violence, Fitzpatrick spoke in the legislature about her own experience, having been married to an abusive husband in the 1970s.[4] She earned a standing ovation in the legislature for her speech, and the bill unanimously passed second reading soon afterward.[4]

Electoral history

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2019 general election

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2019 Alberta general election: Lethbridge-East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
United Conservative Nathan Neudorf 11,883 52.40 +6.28
New Democratic Maria Fitzpatrick 8,775 38.70 -8.79
Alberta Party Ally Taylor 1,054 4.65 --
Liberal Devon Hargreaves 512 2.26 -4.14
  Independence John W. McCanna 453 2.00 --
Total valid votes 22,677 99.20
Rejected, spoiled, and declined 183 0.80 +0.38
Turnout 22,860 66.91 +13.36
Eligible voters 34,167
United Conservative gain from New Democratic Swing +7.54
Source(s)
Elections Alberta. "Electoral Division Results - Lethbridge-East".

2015 general election

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2015 Alberta general election: Lethbridge-East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Maria Fitzpatrick 8,918 47.49 +35.04
Progressive Conservative Tammy Perlich 4,743 25.26 -15.69
Wildrose Kent Prestage 3,918 20.86 -11.07
Liberal Bill West 1,201 6.40 -8.27
Total valid votes 18,780 99.58
Rejected, spoiled, and declined 80 0.42 -0.58
Registered electors / turnout 35,224 53.54 +2.38
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +25.37

References

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  1. ^ "Maria M. Fitzpatrick – NDP – Lethbridge-East". lethbridgeherald.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  2. ^ George. "NLAA :: Hall of Fame". nlaa.ca. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Lethbridge East NDP candidate a labour expert". lethbridgeherald.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  4. ^ a b "‘He beat me. He raped me,’ Alberta NDP politician recounts own experience of domestic violence". Toronto Star, November 17, 2015.