'I don't for the life of me understand it': Liberal Ted McMeekin unseated after 18 years

Ted McMeekinwalked through a crowd of tearful supporters in DundasThursday, shaking hands and pulling people in for hugs. "I'm fine, I'm fine," he kept saying.

For the past 18 years, electoral maps showedAncaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdaleasa Liberal riding, but people living there always knew that wasn't the whole story it was actually a Ted McMeekinriding.

But Thursday, as the newly minted Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas elected its first MPPand a blue wave swept across Ontario washing away Liberal candidates left and right, it was neither.

I don't for the life of me understand it all. I don't for the life of me think it was entirely fair.- Ted McMeekin

After almost two decades at Queen's Park, Ted McMeekinwas voted out and the NDP'sSandy Shaw was elected. McMeekincame in a distant third, with just under 20 per cent of the popular vote.

• TedMcMeekinis a good guy,HWADseniors say, but his party has to go

Known for his folksy charm and commitment to his constituents, the political veteranstarted his concession speech the same way he's started countless addresses crowds from community groups to provincial cabinet ministers with a single wordhe genuinely believes appliedto everyone in the room, "Friends, if I could say a few words."

But after the official speech, the exhaustion became evident and he was left with a puzzled lookbefitting the survivor of a natural disaster. He called it a tsunami.

"I think there was a wave. When a tsunami hits, it doesn't matter if you're a good swimmer or not, you tend to drown in the flood," he said.

"I don't for the life of me understand it all. I don't for the life of me think it was entirely fair, but you know what? The voters are always right and it's time for a change I guess."

McMeekin's political career spans decades, starting with two terms as a Hamilton city councillor and another two as mayor of the Town of Flamborough.

He was first elected as an MPP in 2000 andwas a cabinet member four times, as minister of consumer services, minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, ministerof community and social services and minister of municipal affairs and housing.

The long-time politician held onto his seat through in election after election, until Thursday.

"I don't think there's a major issue Hamilton has had to deal with that Ted has not been involved in," said former Hamilton mayor Larry Di Ianni, who pointed the the creation of the Greenbelt that winds through the Golden Horseshoeasone of McMeekin'saccomplishments.

Di Ianni said he believes the former MPPfell victim to three trends: The anti-Liberal wave seen across the province, the fact he ran in a new riding and hatred for (former) premier Kathleen Wynne.

"Hamilton enjoyed unprecedented support," while McMeekin was in place, he added, but now the city will have to go one without his influence.

Liberal party 'lost trust' of voters

Former city councillor and PC MPPBrad Clark echoed Di Ianni'sanalysis.

"I don't believe for a moment it's specifically because of anything Ted did it's because the Liberal party has lost the trust and the faith of voters and he just went out with the tide," he said.

McMeekinsaid himself that he feels his party had lost Ontario's trust. He put that loss down to the sale of Hydro One.

But despite the shortcomings of his party, Clarkgives full credit to McMeekin for a long list of personal successes, including somehow managingto secure the pledge of $1 billion for LRT transit funding from the province, something the former political rival described as an "unprecedented promise."

It's so heartbreaking that he didn'twin.- Terri Shewfelt, McMeekin supporter

Jon van Vliet, chair of the board at the Routes Youth Centre in Dundas, said he's known McMeekin for years.

A social worker by training, McMeekinhas been a longtime donor to the centre's drop-in program, a supporter of mental health initiatives and even turned a dinner meant to celebrate the 26thyear in politics, into a fundraiser for young people in the area.

Van Vliet said he sees McMeekin's loss as a reflection on the Ontario Liberal Party, not the man himself.

"It might be that people feel it's time for change's sake, let's get some fresh blood in and see where that takes us, but I wouldn'tput that up to anger or animosity towards Ted," he said.

A 'heartbreaking loss'

On Thursday night, Terri Shewfeltsaid she was feeling anger for anyone but McMeekin. She grew up in the riding and described McMeekin as someone who worked incredibly hard for his community.

"Ted is everywhere. Ted knows every part of this riding," she said."I don't think Sandy Shaw knows where Copetown is, where my parents live. It's so heartbreaking that he didn'twin."

With the loss ofMcMeekin, Clark said, the riding has also lost not only local knowledge, but an experienced parliamentarian, who understood the political system and was respected on all sides.

"That knowledgedoesn'tcome overnight," he explained,"Sandy Shawwill face abig learning curve."

More public service in McMeekin'sfuture

When asked what he plans to do next, McMeekinrolled out one of his famous sayings: "I believe the good Lord makes the world round so none of us can look too far down the road, so I'm not looking to far ahead."

After the marathon campaign, he said he was "tired to infinity" and ready to catch up on some sleep and maybe even play some golf.

Pressed for future plans,"some kind of public service" is all he'd say.

Di Innisaid he doubts Hamilton has seen the last of McMeekinand added he's left behind the kind of legacy most politicians dream of.

"I think history will be very kind to Ted. He's folksy, he's smart, he's a survivor."