The votes have been cast, and the decision has been announced.
For the first time in 11 years, someone other than Jordan Sturdy of BC United (formerly British Columbia Liberal Party ) is headed to B.C.’s Parliament Buildings to represent West-Vancouver Sea to Sky.
Congratulations to the Green Party’s Jeremy Valeriote on an historic win.
While to the victor belong the spoils (each MLA receives about $120,000 per year), a heartfelt thanks— huy chexw— to each of the candidates who ran: Jen Ford, Yuri Fulmer and Valeriote.
It is no easy thing to put your name forward. In fact, there are very few other examples in life where someone must run the gauntlet like a candidate for office!
To get to this post-election stage of the process, you must convince your chosen party you are a good choice—well, after convincing your family that this is a good idea.
There are months of long days away from said family as you make the rounds of door-knocking, all candidates meetings, and answering annoying queries from pesky reporters who pester you with a diverse array of questions with short deadlines.
You must endure attacks from random strangers on the internet, in person or at all-candidates meetings, and more strategic hits from your opponents.
Not to mention all the paperwork before, during and after campaigns that candidates have to do.
Win or lose, what you did matters. Having folks like you willing to put yourselves out there is one of the key foundations of our democracy.
Though many of us likely don’t think of it this way, our right as citizens to run for political office assumes there are folks willing to put themselves through that.
And thank you for a civil campaign where real and diverse ideas were raised and debated. Each of you showed you really believe and care about the Sea to Sky Corridor.
There can only be one MLA to come out of this election, but each of you should be proud of having been willing to offer your fellow citizens a viable choice in who should represent us provincially.
Whether we voted for you or not, each of us should be grateful to you for that.
And to Mr. Sturdy—who has been in some form of political office for over the last two decades, having served three terms as mayor of Pemberton prior to being elected our MLA in 2013—thank you for your dedicated service.
Thank you as well to your family, who let you put us before them time and again. We hope you find plenty of joy and peace in the politics-free time ahead.
Next up for the rest of us—unless there’s another provincial election [egad!]—will be the federal election with a new cast of candidates vying for our votes.
