Four candidates in the Cowichan Valley riding may not have represented major parties but no one came away from the night empty-handed.
Ian Morrison, who conducted a full-out campaign with professional signs and even a formal election-night celebration with supporters at the Cowichan Rocks Curling Lounge, finished the night with 478 votes according to Elections BC’s preliminary results.
Next up was Libertarian Party candidate, James Anderson, with 367.
Late entry into the race, young business owner Samuel Lockhart, who called himself an independent conservative, garnered 136 votes for his campaign.
Independent socialist candidate and former school board chair Eden Haythornthwaite picked up 117.
The Citizen reached out to each of these candidates, asking if they would like to comment on the election.
Only Lockhart replied by press-time.
“What an honour to participate! Congratulation to Sonia [Furstenau] on her successful campaign. I stepped up to the plate and entered into the rink as a candidate at the last second, didn’t accept a single dollar for advertising, nor did I litter our beautiful landscape with a single sign. I attended every all-candidates debate, and gave it my best.
“Last night was a great victory. Gathering over 136 votes was the first step. I know that it takes time to build up a reputation, and I know my time will come here,” he said.
Lockhart is keen on the idea of reforming how government works.
“Our election system doesn’t accurately represent the people nor does it give us a way to have our voices heard during key decisions which affect life as we know it.
“For the next four years, we as citizens basically have zero say in what the government can, or cannot do until the next election when we elect someone new to ‘represent us’. Sadly, the reality is that 60 per cent of the Cowichan Valley did not vote for, or support the Green Party, leaving the majority of citizens feeling let down and not confident.
“I think Sonia seems like a kind, strong woman and even though I don’t share her views, I have nothing against her,” Lockhart said.