Defeated PC candidates hopeful, not ready to call it quits

Despite losing in their respective districts, candidates at the PC headquarters in Paradise remained optimistic about the future of the party Monday night — and their role in it. 

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 Rhonda Churchill-Herder, who ran in the district of Mount Scio, told CBC News throwing her hat into the ring was one of the most rewarding experiences of her lifetime. 

"We just worked our butts off in this campaign, it was a great election. What a great experience," she said. 

On the doorstep, Churchill-Herder said voters were most concerned about issues pertaining to health care and wait times. 

"Second to that was probably seniors issue and then, of course, education. Especially my district, there was some talks about junior high and high schools within the district."

While she found the campaign to be exhausting, Churchill-Herder said she's taking her defeat in stride. 

"Right now it's going to be [about] rebuilding," she said, echoing the same sentiment made by Paul Davis earlier in the evening.

"My team and I, we're going to get back in the saddle and going to begin working and rebuilding, and the next go around we'll do it for sure."

Tomás Shea and Josh Collier, the defeated candidates in Carbonear-Trinity-Bay de Verde and St. John's East-Quidi Vidi, respectively, were similarly optimistic. 

Shea said he was pleased the Liberals didn't sweep the Avalon entirely, as was the case in the federal election. 

"Unfortunate results for our own party but [it's] nice to see that there is more than just an entire Liberal majority happening," Shea said. 

Collier and Shea both said they're considering running in future elections.  

"I've certainly learned a lot about the political process and all the things going on behind the scenes. It's been a good experience," Collier said.