When Jon Johnson realized there were going to be no names on the provincial ballot that he wanted to support, he took matters into his own hands.
I wanted to participate and vote. I didn't want to vote for people I didn't believe in, so I signed up, the West Vancouver resident said.
The general manager and vice-president of Clairmont Camera Film and Digital's Vancouver office is the only independent running in the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding, having signed up to run just before the deadline of last Friday (April 28). He said he knows it's going to be an uphill battle to win a seat in Victoria.
British Columbians have only elected a single independent candidate Vicki Huntingdon of South Delta in 2009. Add to that challenge the lack of support and money from a party. But that's exactly why you should vote for him, Johnson said.
Party politics won't allow their members to vote against them, he said. But a job of an MLA, as I see it, is to represent the people of the riding.
Being an independent requires a lot more work from the get-go, Johnson said. When he decided to run, he went door-to-door to collect 90 signatures backing his candidacy. It was an eye-opening experience, he said. Many people he met shared the same frustrations with party politics.
But more than that, Johnson said the undertaking taught him to listen to people's concerns and take them to heart. As election day nears, Johnson said he feels he's made a commitment to those he's spoken with.
Johnson would like to see electoral reforms implemented, capping the amount of money individuals can contribute to candidates and banning donations from businesses and unions.
B.C. voters can also help curb politicians' tendency to follow the party line, he said. During the upcoming election forums Squamish's political debate kicks off Thursday (May 2) at 7 p.m. at the Eagle Eye Theatre while Whistler's forum is Monday at 6 p.m. at the library residents should ask candidates if they would ever vote against their party, Johnson said.
In the future, Johnson hopes more people will run as independents, noting it might help reduce voter apathy. Meanwhile, he encourages voters to watch the documentary Whipped by B.C. political reporter Sean Holman. The documentary investigates party discipline in B.C.
I want to see more choice on the ballot, Johnson said.
To learn more about Johnson visit his website at www.jonjohnson.ca and to learn more about the upcoming election visit www.elections.bc.ca.
