It wasn't the result Bay of Quinte NDP candidate Alison Kelly was hoping for but she's proud of her campaign and will continue to shine a light on social issues.
 
Kelly finished with 20.9 per cent of the vote - second to incumbent Conservative candidate Todd Smith's 49.3 per cent on Thursday night.  Liberal candidate Emilie Leneveu took 18.5 per cent of the vote, the Greens Erica Charlton 6.3 per cent, New Blus Party Rob Collins at 2.6 per cent and the Ontario Party's Noah Wales with 2.5 per cent.
 
"I feel good," said Kelly in an interview at the Beaufort Pub, in Belleville where she was gathered with her supporters.  "I'm a little sad for so many in our community who needed us to win.  But I'm so proud of our team."
 
Kelly has been an outspoken advocate who ran a campaign that focused on healthcare and social justice.  Her campaign also featured three visits from now former NDP leader Andrea Horwath.  Horwath announced that she is stepping down from the post she has held for 13 years during her concession speech following another defeat in the provincial election.
 
During the campaign the NDP promised to offer mental health support, dental care and prescription drugs through OHIP, raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour, get rid of Bill 124, build 250,000 affordable and non-market rental homes over the next 10 years and bring back rent control.
 
Kelly said she is 'so proud' of those who stepped up to support her or voted for the first time.
 
"I'm so proud of the people who haven't voted for 18 years who saw themselves in the campaign, who saw something in me that they wanted to support coming out and voted.    I'm proud of that," she said.  "I'm very honoured."
 
Looking back on lessons learned her campaign manager Leslie Parsons said they would have hit more doors, but overall, she doesn't think they could have done anything differently.
 
"She was on the doors talking to people and all of the new voters that never voted before were coming out and saying they were voting, it was wonderful," Parsons said.  "She worked very hard and the results are showing that."
 
The both shared stories of their volunteers taking new voters to the polls that were brought to tears after casting their ballots for the first time.
 
"She ran a great campaign," echoed Terry Cassidy.
 
The Quinte West councillor ran as the local candidate for the federal NDP party in 2015.
 
"It was inspiring because of her and real sense of how to work with people that are fundamentally people in the community that are in need whether it be youth or seniors.  People that just need good representation," he said.  "She was representing them with her heart and soul.  She did a great job."
 
As for what's next for Kelly, there is still much unfinished business to attend to.
 
Kelly will continue to 'make sure the County follows through on the period products in public bathrooms.'
 
"I'm going to keep an eye on the displacement project that is happening on the Prince Edward Heights," she said.  "I want to keep an eye on that to make sure they are being socially responsible by creating a rehoming plan and what does that look like going forward for people in our community."
 
She will also be watching how the City of Belleville proceeds with its Taxi Bylaw because she is "concerned that there is some language in here that doesn't protect youth and marginalized people."
 
She will also be helping with the upcoming municipal election to support candidates whose voices she thinks should be at the table however Kelly is stepping aside as school board trustee.
 
"I've decided I am going to step aside," she offered.  "I am going to support other voices that need to be there."
 
Kelly said she has been speaking with a couple of BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+cadidates who 'need to be at that table.'
 
"I will be actively supporting and helping diverse voices to get there," she said.
 
Her final thoughts to those who voted for her and want to see their issues addressed by all levels of government she said "we've just started."
 
"Don't be scared, just do it," she stated.  "Surround yourself with people who share the same visions as you and values with you.  You find that you are not alone.  There are other people who are struggling with the same things you are."
 
She encouraged people to talk to one another about those issues, start advocating plus approaching their MPP and councils as a collective.
 
"That's how you move," she said.  "That's how you change.  You come together as a collective and you don't let go.  Like a dog on a bone."