In politics, as in life, no defeat is permanent. No victory is everlasting. The battle is never over

Saturday brought interesting results, from all around the province, as polls closed at 8pm on municipal and school board elections.

For starters, Saturday’s civic election had numerous notable moments, including in the City of Nanaimo, where former NDP MLA Leonard Krog will soon take over as mayor.  That leaves the provincial riding open, and … it also means BC Premier John Horgan will need to call a by-election.  Given his NDP razor thin majority in the legislature, only due to being propped up by Andrew Weaver’s Green Party, that is not a riding he’ll want to even consider the possibility of losing.  Look for a star candidate to be on the ballot.

Newly elected North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring

Also, on Vancouver Island, former North Cowichan city councilor Al Siebring decided to take a run at the Mayors chair which was being held by Jon Lefebure, who had 16 years of public service in the District of North Cowichan.  At the end of vote counting he had won the election … and it was close!

“Well, it appears I have been elected Mayor of North Cowichan” … Siebring commented, before going on to say … “The margin of victory could barely have been slimmer; just 10 votes. If anyone ever tells you your vote doesn't count, don't believe them!”

Across the water, in the City of Vancouver, it should be noted that Kennedy Stewart IS NOT the first Independent Mayor in decades.  How can that be said with all of the union paid full-time staffers on his campaign.  His campaign was bolstered by untold numbers of union supporters, as well as four members of Vancouver and District Labour Council unions.  They, continued to collect their union salaries while pretty much working full-time to support Stewart's campaign.  The ballot may not have recognized him as being a party candidate, but NDP and unions are the parties that supported him.

Former Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan

Crossing over Boundary Road, voters in Burnaby turfed Derek Corrigan, who had wasted over a MILLION dollars of tax-payers money fighting against the Trans Mountain Pipeline -- something they did not have legal authority to block.  I have to say that in recent years, any news story with him always seemed to portray an angry and cranky individual.  He really will be now, I guess, after losing in his attempt at a sixth term in the Mayors chair.,

Also sticky with Burnaby, determined Anti-SOGI 123 advocate Laura-Lynn Thompson, who called the materials ‘crazy teaching’, failed to gain a spot on the Burnaby School Board.  She placed well back in the pack with the third fewest votes cast in her favour.

Headed east, former BC Liberal cabinet Minister Peter Fassbender was defeated in his bid for elected office for a second time in under two years, losing the Mayors race in Langley by just 206 votes.  Prior to entering provincial politics in 2013, he had been mayor of Langley for eight years.

Closer to home, current Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Chair, and long-time Mayor of Cache Creek, John Ranta, was defeated by Santo Talarico by just 26 votes.

Here in Kamloops, incumbent city councilor Donovan Cavers also decided to take a run at being elected as a Trustee for District 73.  His bid for School Board, and re-election to City Council, both failed once the ballots were all counted. 

After serving a twelve year on Kamloops City Council, beginning in 2005, Tina Lange did not seek re-election this year.  On Sunday, the day after municipal election were held through-out the province, I asked Tina about the process of running, and what it’s like. 

She stated, "What sucks about an election is those that run do so believing they will be elected! And when you pour your heart and soul into a campaign it’s devastating to lose. However, every candidate is a winner for having the passion and fortitude to not just sit back and bitch but put their name where their mouth is!”

And for those who had let their names stand, “My thanks to everyone of you", she said.

In Kamloops we saw what I would call a pathetic 29% of eligible voter take the time to do their civic duty and vote – how disappointing!  Up in the Peace River country, I asked returning Ft. St. John councilor Trevor Bolin about voter turn-out there.

“Fort St John seen an increase of 5% voter turnout up from 15% in the 2014 election. We had a similar number of candidates in both, both had (Mayor) Lori Ackerman being acclaimed, and both were all 6 incumbents. I would say the 5% increase this election, vs last, was from social media.”

He went on to say, “As we find our lives revolving more around instant communication, as does elections. Voters have an easier time collecting the information needed, and being able to ask the tough questions without it being an open forum. The only way I can see any increases in voter turn out, is an advanced online voting format before the next municipal election.”

“The residents of BC have been very vocal about this for the last few years, and its time for the province to act on it. Its 2018, you can buy real estate, vehicles, groceries, book holidays and run entire million-dollar businesses from your iPhone, but you can’t vote?”, Bolin concluded.

Given low turn-outs, he likely does have a point, and hopefully a system we can feel safe in being fool-proof can be developed soon.

Sticking with the north country, Prince George had what must have been the provinces biggest landslide Mayors race.  There, Lyn Hall was re-elected with 91% of the vote! 

On the opposite side of things are the squeakers. 

As previously mentioned, Al Siebring took the Mayors Chair in North Cowichan by just 10 votes, but the wasn’t the tightest race however.  Winner in that category was Peachland where incumbent Mayor Cindy Fortin was defeated by Harry Gough.  The margin of victory for Gough?  One single vote!

Before wrapping things up today, I’m going to return to my own community of Kamloops.

On Saturday Caroline King took her second run at a seat on council, but missed making the 8^th place cut-off.  Those in our community will know Caroline as an individual who had been one of the strongest supporters of the failed Ajax Mine bid.  More recently however, she and Dennis Giesbrecht (who also missed on his

bid for council) had been involved in the needle buy-back program they initiated.  I asked Caroline if perhaps being associated with Ajax, and the needle campaign, had hurt her.

Her reply?  “I do think having contentious issues like Ajax and needle buy back may have played a part, but I’m not sire it was a large part.  There are always going to be those who will hold Ajax against me, and those that despise anything that seems to assist addiction”. 

Regardless, it doesn’t appear she plans to let that hold her back from doing what she sees needs doing -- she continued by stating, “I will always be seeking ways to benefit my city or working on issues that touch me, it’s just who I am.”

And speaking of Dennis, it sounds like a loss isn’t going to discourage him either.

“In politics, as in life, no defeat is permanent. No victory is everlasting. The battle is never over. And in this case, it's just beginning”, he said.

That’s a wrap for me, but before I go, let me say I am severely disappointed in how few people there were, right across the province, who took the time to vote.  With very few exceptions, you had absolutely no excuse for shirking on your civic duty to be a part of our democratic system.  Some of you were plain lazy … some would rather whine about things without taking any responsibility to change them … others say it won’t change anything.

The rest?  Hell, I don’t know why they didn’t take the few minutes required to vote … all I know is that it makes me extremely mad that they didn’t.

In Kamloops, I’m Alan Forseth, and I hope you’ll join the discussion on this, or any other topic presented here.  Do you agree … disagree?  Post your thoughts in the Comment Section directly below.