Remember Peter Klimuk
Sometimes elections are one by a single vote
If you’re still debating whether you want to vote on Tuesday, remember the name Peter Klimuk. In December 1978, Mr. Klimuk had his name drawn in random to win the third and final spot on Penticton City Council after both he and incumbent Harry Fisher collected 2,001 votes in the municipal election.
Returning officer C.J. Sewell, not wanting to be accused of a personal bias, chose the winner by random draw rather than casting the deciding vote himself. Yes, one vote can make a difference. Where a single vote becomes more powerful is when you’re able to convince a first-time voter to get out and support the candidate of your choice. When you go to vote on Tuesday, invite your spouse, neighbour, friend, co-worker, son or daughter to go to the polls with you.
Rich or poor, black or white, gay or straight, right, left or centre, we all have one vote.
Don’t assume a race is a foregone conclusion. Very few ever expected a Trump presidency. Many are now kicking themselves for staying home on election day.
While the Klimuk story may seem like a fluke, there are other local cases.
When Liberal Bill Barisoff unseated NDP incumbent Bill Barlee in OkanaganBoundary back in 1996, Barisoff won by only 27 votes. An official recount was held and it took days to declare Barisoff the winner.
Dan Ashton was barely re-elected mayor of Penticton in 2011 in a tight race with Julius Bloomfield.
Provincial elections are efficient, well run and still counted manually (voting machines have to go). It means we’ll all be up late on Tuesday waiting to find out who wins (especially in ridings such as Boundary Similkameen, which is expected to be close) but it’s the fairest and most accurate method available.
It’s important for Penticton residents, in particular, to cast votes on Tuesday. In the 2014 municipal election, shut-ins were denied the right to vote because the previous council didn’t consider a traveling ballot box to be necessary. One polling station with mile-long line-ups... the entire day was shameful and nobody has ever apologized. Then the mayor and several councillors had the audacity to comment on low voter turnout.
Voting is our right, our privilege, our obligation, our freedom. Please cast your X on Tuesday.
—James Miller