# 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.

## 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.

## 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. She earned a standing ovation in the legislature for her speech, and the bill unanimously passed second reading soon afterward.

## Electoral history
### 2019 general election

vte2019 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 | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 22,677 | 99.20 |
| Rejected, spoiled, and declined | Rejected, spoiled, and declined | Rejected, spoiled, and declined | 183 | 0.80 | +0.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,860 | 66.91 | +13.36 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 34,167 |
| | United Conservative gain from New Democratic | United Conservative gain from New Democratic | Swing | Swing | +7.54 |
| Source(s) Elections Alberta. "Electoral Division Results - Lethbridge-East". |||||||

### 2015 general election

vte2015 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 | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 18,780 | 99.58 |
| Rejected, spoiled, and declined | Rejected, spoiled, and declined | Rejected, spoiled, and declined | 80 | 0.42 | -0.58 |
| Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | Registered electors / turnout | 35,224 | 53.54 | +2.38 |
| | New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | Swing | +25.37 |
| Source(s) Elections Alberta. "Electoral Division Results - Lethbridge-East". |||||||