Vicki Huntington says two things are critical to be elected as an independent member of the legislature in British Columbia 91裸聊视频� trusted name recognition and an angry constituency.
She would know.
In 2009, Huntington became the first independent MLA elected to the B.C. legislature in 60 years and went on to become the first ever woman re-elected as an independent, representing Delta until 2017.
Seven years later, she thinks the political landscape is primed to again to elect an independent in the Oct. 19 election following the decision by B.C. United Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon shut down the party91裸聊视频檚 campaign.
Forty independent candidates will be on the ballot, attempting to follow the path that Huntington blazed, including five former B.C. United incumbents: Mike Bernier, Dan Davies, Tom Shypitka, Coralee Oakes and Karin Kirkpatrick, who were left on their own after the collapse of the party.
Former NDP MLA Adam Walker, who was kicked out of caucus last year over a human resources complaint, is also seeking re-election as an independent.
Huntington said in an interview that B.C. United 91裸聊视频減ulled the rug out91裸聊视频� from under its candidates in August when Falcon suspended the campaign and threw his support behind B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad.
She said there may be enough voters who don91裸聊视频檛 feel at home with either the NDP or the Conservatives, and who are angry enough with Falcon that they91裸聊视频檒l vote for an incumbent name they recognize.
91裸聊视频淚 think if they91裸聊视频檙e well known, if they did a good job at being in MLA, if people are as upset with Falcon91裸聊视频檚 activities as he deserves, then I think they will have a good chance of winning,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淚n the case of the Conservatives, there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of nervousness in the province, both federally and provincially, I91裸聊视频檇 say. So, if an incumbent can understand whether the riding is nervous or whether they really are conservative, they should be able to 91裸聊视频� set up some sort of campaign that tells people what the difference is and how they can be represented.91裸聊视频�
Huntington came to power in Delta after years as a popular local councillor and following fights with the provincial government over the community hospital and highway construction.
She beat Liberal heavyweight and former judge Wally Oppal by 32 votes.
Huntington said there is a misconception that independents don91裸聊视频檛 have power in the legislature.
She said her budget was enough to hire two research assistants dedicated to the concerns of her riding, rather than having to share with many party members.
After negotiations with then-opposition house leader Mike Farnworth, Huntington was also allowed to ask two questions a week during question period in the legislature.
She said in established political parties it would be 91裸聊视频渦nheard of91裸聊视频� for a single MLA to get that many questions to ask specifically about their ridings.
91裸聊视频淚 had, on three or four occasions, members of the opposition and even a member of the government party come to me and say, 91裸聊视频榁icki, I have a critical issue in my riding. I91裸聊视频檓 not going to be able to get up and ask a question 91裸聊视频� government can91裸聊视频檛 ask questions 91裸聊视频� Would you ask a question for me?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淎nd in two cases, I did.91裸聊视频�
But holding the mantle alone is not without its challenges, particularly when running an election campaign.
She said larger donors didn91裸聊视频檛 want to publicly put their name behind an independent candidate.
91裸聊视频淥bviously people were voting for me, but they didn91裸聊视频檛 necessarily send me money because, of course, it91裸聊视频檚 all public,91裸聊视频� she said.
She said some of the former B.C. United MLAs may not have the same problem because of their established connections.
91裸聊视频淵ou don91裸聊视频檛 get the big pockets giving you the money when you91裸聊视频檙e an Independent. Whereas this time, I91裸聊视频檒l bet the big pockets are still helping,91裸聊视频� she said.
Davies, who is running in the Peace River North Riding he represented as a B.C. United MLA since 2017, said his campaign was 91裸聊视频渇ully funded91裸聊视频� before Falcon91裸聊视频檚 decision, but as an Independent he has no access to the money which he says 91裸聊视频渨as stolen.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 had already purchased my signs out of that fundraised money through the B.C. United, and they were right in my campaign office. So, I already had those signs,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淣ot only did I have to go buy new signs, but some of my bigger signs, I had to repurchase with my own money, my newly fundraised money. I had to buy them back again from the B.C. United.91裸聊视频�
Davies said his campaign also lost critical data that was held by B.C. United, including volunteer lists.
He said Falcon91裸聊视频檚 move left his campaign working 91裸聊视频減retty much from ground zero again, or probably even a couple feet under,91裸聊视频� but he has since rebounded under the independent banner.
Davies said changes in election law since Huntington ran mean that large corporate donations are not available, but his constituents have been more than willing to open their chequebooks.
University of the Fraser Valley political scientist Hamish Telford said having six incumbent MLAs running as independents 91裸聊视频渋s unprecedented91裸聊视频� in a B.C. election.
He said in ridings where the governing NDP is not a factor 91裸聊视频� such as parts of the north 91裸聊视频� and the fight is between a Conservative and a former B.C. United incumbent, the independents could have a 91裸聊视频済round advantage.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭hey are known in the communities, they91裸聊视频檝e campaigned before, they know how to do it. They know where their supporters are. But they91裸聊视频檙e facing a big Conservative wave,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淚n other places, it91裸聊视频檚 going to be a three-way race. There will be strong NDP candidates, and with three-way races, it91裸聊视频檚 very hard to predict outcomes.91裸聊视频�
Huntington said if two Independents win it would be enough to qualify them as a party in the legislature 91裸聊视频� something that could change the dynamic, especially if the election is close.
91裸聊视频淪o, you might see a new party come out of this, and you might see a concerted effort at a coalition within the legislature itself,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淎nd that changes the dynamic, because depending on how close the election actually is, the Independents, if they91裸聊视频檙e a coalition, could hold a balance of power in this legislature, and that would be very interesting.91裸聊视频�
Davies said any talk of forming a party is a hard thing to consider before election day.
91裸聊视频淔irst of all, what does the legislature look like after Oct. 19? How close it is, who91裸聊视频檚 sitting there as independent candidates or Green Party candidates?91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淵ou know the other thing, and this is the big one, I will only do what is right for Peace River North, and if that decision to form a coalition is what91裸聊视频檚 best for Peace River North, then so be it. If it91裸聊视频檚 joining the B.C. Conservatives, you know, obviously, after a conversation with (leader) John (Rustad), then that91裸聊视频檚 the decision that will be made.91裸聊视频�
