Vicki Huntington says two things are critical to be elected as an independent member of the legislature in British Columbia 香蕉视频直播� trusted name recognition and an angry constituency.

She would know.

In 2009, Huntington became the first independent MLA elected to the B.C. legislature in 60 years and went on to become the first ever woman re-elected as an independent, representing Delta until 2017.

Seven years later, she thinks the political landscape is primed to again to elect an independent in the Oct. 19 election following the decision by B.C. United Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon shut down the party香蕉视频直播檚 campaign.

Forty independent candidates will be on the ballot, attempting to follow the path that Huntington blazed, including five former B.C. United incumbents: Mike Bernier, Dan Davies, Tom Shypitka, Coralee Oakes and Karin Kirkpatrick, who were left on their own after the collapse of the party.

Former NDP MLA Adam Walker, who was kicked out of caucus last year over a human resources complaint, is also seeking re-election as an independent.

Huntington said in an interview that B.C. United 香蕉视频直播減ulled the rug out香蕉视频直播� from under its candidates in August when Falcon suspended the campaign and threw his support behind B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad.

She said there may be enough voters who don香蕉视频直播檛 feel at home with either the NDP or the Conservatives, and who are angry enough with Falcon that they香蕉视频直播檒l vote for an incumbent name they recognize.

香蕉视频直播淚 think if they香蕉视频直播檙e well known, if they did a good job at being in MLA, if people are as upset with Falcon香蕉视频直播檚 activities as he deserves, then I think they will have a good chance of winning,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淚n the case of the Conservatives, there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of nervousness in the province, both federally and provincially, I香蕉视频直播檇 say. So, if an incumbent can understand whether the riding is nervous or whether they really are conservative, they should be able to 香蕉视频直播� set up some sort of campaign that tells people what the difference is and how they can be represented.香蕉视频直播�

Huntington came to power in Delta after years as a popular local councillor and following fights with the provincial government over the community hospital and highway construction.

She beat Liberal heavyweight and former judge Wally Oppal by 32 votes.

Huntington said there is a misconception that independents don香蕉视频直播檛 have power in the legislature.

She said her budget was enough to hire two research assistants dedicated to the concerns of her riding, rather than having to share with many party members.

After negotiations with then-opposition house leader Mike Farnworth, Huntington was also allowed to ask two questions a week during question period in the legislature.

She said in established political parties it would be 香蕉视频直播渦nheard of香蕉视频直播� for a single MLA to get that many questions to ask specifically about their ridings.

香蕉视频直播淚 had, on three or four occasions, members of the opposition and even a member of the government party come to me and say, 香蕉视频直播榁icki, I have a critical issue in my riding. I香蕉视频直播檓 not going to be able to get up and ask a question 香蕉视频直播� government can香蕉视频直播檛 ask questions 香蕉视频直播� Would you ask a question for me?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� she said.

香蕉视频直播淎nd in two cases, I did.香蕉视频直播�

But holding the mantle alone is not without its challenges, particularly when running an election campaign.

She said larger donors didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to publicly put their name behind an independent candidate.

香蕉视频直播淥bviously people were voting for me, but they didn香蕉视频直播檛 necessarily send me money because, of course, it香蕉视频直播檚 all public,香蕉视频直播� she said.

She said some of the former B.C. United MLAs may not have the same problem because of their established connections.

香蕉视频直播淵ou don香蕉视频直播檛 get the big pockets giving you the money when you香蕉视频直播檙e an Independent. Whereas this time, I香蕉视频直播檒l bet the big pockets are still helping,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Davies, who is running in the Peace River North Riding he represented as a B.C. United MLA since 2017, said his campaign was 香蕉视频直播渇ully funded香蕉视频直播� before Falcon香蕉视频直播檚 decision, but as an Independent he has no access to the money which he says 香蕉视频直播渨as stolen.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 had already purchased my signs out of that fundraised money through the B.C. United, and they were right in my campaign office. So, I already had those signs,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淣ot only did I have to go buy new signs, but some of my bigger signs, I had to repurchase with my own money, my newly fundraised money. I had to buy them back again from the B.C. United.香蕉视频直播�

Davies said his campaign also lost critical data that was held by B.C. United, including volunteer lists.

He said Falcon香蕉视频直播檚 move left his campaign working 香蕉视频直播減retty much from ground zero again, or probably even a couple feet under,香蕉视频直播� but he has since rebounded under the independent banner.

Davies said changes in election law since Huntington ran mean that large corporate donations are not available, but his constituents have been more than willing to open their chequebooks.

University of the Fraser Valley political scientist Hamish Telford said having six incumbent MLAs running as independents 香蕉视频直播渋s unprecedented香蕉视频直播� in a B.C. election.

He said in ridings where the governing NDP is not a factor 香蕉视频直播� such as parts of the north 香蕉视频直播� and the fight is between a Conservative and a former B.C. United incumbent, the independents could have a 香蕉视频直播済round advantage.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭hey are known in the communities, they香蕉视频直播檝e campaigned before, they know how to do it. They know where their supporters are. But they香蕉视频直播檙e facing a big Conservative wave,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淚n other places, it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a three-way race. There will be strong NDP candidates, and with three-way races, it香蕉视频直播檚 very hard to predict outcomes.香蕉视频直播�

Huntington said if two Independents win it would be enough to qualify them as a party in the legislature 香蕉视频直播� something that could change the dynamic, especially if the election is close.

香蕉视频直播淪o, you might see a new party come out of this, and you might see a concerted effort at a coalition within the legislature itself,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淎nd that changes the dynamic, because depending on how close the election actually is, the Independents, if they香蕉视频直播檙e a coalition, could hold a balance of power in this legislature, and that would be very interesting.香蕉视频直播�

Davies said any talk of forming a party is a hard thing to consider before election day.

香蕉视频直播淔irst of all, what does the legislature look like after Oct. 19? How close it is, who香蕉视频直播檚 sitting there as independent candidates or Green Party candidates?香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淵ou know the other thing, and this is the big one, I will only do what is right for Peace River North, and if that decision to form a coalition is what香蕉视频直播檚 best for Peace River North, then so be it. If it香蕉视频直播檚 joining the B.C. Conservatives, you know, obviously, after a conversation with (leader) John (Rustad), then that香蕉视频直播檚 the decision that will be made.香蕉视频直播�