Maria Fitzpatrick

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]

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 by	Bridget Pastoor
Succeeded by	Nathan Neudorf
Personal details
Born	February 18, 1949 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Political party	Alberta New Democratic Party
Residence	Lethbridge, Alberta
Occupation	Corrections officer, athlete

Early life

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

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

2019 general election

2019 Alberta general election: Lethbridge-East
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	United Conservative	Nathan Neudorf	11,883	52.4%	+6.28%
	New Democratic	Maria Fitzpatrick	8,775	38.7%	-8.79%
	Alberta Party	Ally Taylor	1,054	4.6%	--
	Liberal	Devon Hargreaves	512	2.3%	-4.1%
	Independence	John W. McCanna	453	2.0%	--
Total valid votes			22,677
Rejected, spoiled, and declined			120	50	13
Registered electors			35,983
Turnout			63.4%
	United Conservative gain from New Democratic		Swing		+6.28%
Source(s) Elections Alberta. "Electoral Division Results - Lethbridge-East".

2015 general election

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
Source(s) Elections Alberta. "Electoral Division Results - Lethbridge-East".

References

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. "‘He beat me. He raped me,’ Alberta NDP politician recounts own experience of domestic violence". Toronto Star, November 17, 2015.