Voters in Kelowna West choose new MLA today

5 candidates in running to replace retired Christy Clark

Today is voting day for Kelowna West constituents, who will cast ballots to fill the MLA spot formerly held by Christy Clark.

BC Liberal candidate Ben Stewart says his campaign will be working hard today.

“Lots of people have indicated that they’ll support me, but we’ve got to get them out to the polls,” Stewart said Tuesday afternoon. “Apathy would be the biggest single concern in this byelection for myself.”

Stewart, who represented the riding from 2009 to 2013, gave up his seat for Clark, who lost her own Vancouver riding in 2013.

This election is an important one for B.C., he said.

“I think there’s no question this election is a bit of a watershed byelection,” said Stewart. “Although this riding has been held by the BC Liberals for quite a while, we’ve had a lot of opposition from the NDP-Green coalition, who would like to have that extra seat advantage, because currently the NDP and the BC Liberals are tied in the house at 41 seats. There’s a lot at stake.”

While Kelowna West is typically considered a safe riding for the BC Liberals, Stewart is not feeling confident going into today, he said.

“Who would have predicted that what were considered to be safe ridings would have gone to the NDP in the last provincial election?” he said. “It shouldn’t happen, but it happens when either you’re not listening or you take things for granted. We’ve tried to work very hard in making certain we don’t take anything for granted.”

BC NDP candidate Shelley Cook said she is feeling much more confident going into this election than when she ran against Clark in last spring’s provincial election, especially since the NDP is now in power.

“People are recognizing there are real benefits to having an MLA that’s working for the government and not on the back bench of the opposition,” said Cook. “What I’m hearing is people saying ‘I always voted Liberal, but I’m voting NDP’ . . . and also people saying ‘I don’t normally vote, but I’m voting.’ I think there’s a real receptivity around change and recognizing the benefits of that right now.”

While byelections typically draw lower numbers than general elections, Cook said people have expressed interest in this election and issues in the riding.

“People are engaged and very invested,” she said. “I’m just hoping that translates to people getting out there and voting.”

Cook said she has already been speaking with Premier John Horgan about local issues, and discussing possible solutions.

“I’ve been acting as a default MLA . . . not waiting for after the election to resolve issues,” she said. “I’ve connected with more people than ever before, and I’m feeling really good about heading to Victoria to represent the people in my constituency.”

Green candidate Robert Stupka said he too has gotten the sense that people in Kelowna West want a change.

“Most people in the riding honestly don’t want to go as far as voting for the NDP, so we provide that strong option for them to find a party that’s going to look out for their best interest first and has a real voice in decision making in Victoria,” he said.

“This is a huge opportunity to voters to be able to have a third option they wouldn’t normally consider.”

Stupka expressed confidence the momentum he has built during the campaign will lead to a victory.

“I sent a message to supporters and said we can win this, and I think we can,” he said. “I’m confident when people take a look at what the Greens have been presenting in this campaign that we are the best vote for this riding.”

The other two candidates running in today’s byelection are BC Conservative Mark Thompson and Libertarian Kyle Geronazzo.