It was an upbeat and reflective Stephen Johnston in the wake of a third-place finish in West 91大黄鸭-Peachland on election night (Oct. 19).
鈥淚 was at peace coming into the end of the day here,鈥� Johnston said about 90 minutes after the polls closed. 鈥淚 knew I had done everything I could. I had a wonderful team behind me, a deep bench of great people.鈥�
It was Johnston鈥檚 first run at provincial politics. He garnered 5,511 votes (21.34 per cent) as an independent candidate. He finished behind B.C. NDP candidate Krystal Smith (7,118 votes/27.56 per cent) and winner Conservative Party of B.C. candidate Macklin McCall (13,194/51.09 per cent).
鈥淚 thought the results would be a little bit different than they were,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 okay, not the day I guess.鈥�
Johnston was one of a record 40 independent candidates (none were elected) running in this election, caused by former B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon鈥檚 decision to suspend the party鈥檚 campaign in August.
He and Conservative Leader John Rustad promised a vetting of all candidates with the most suitable individual getting the nod to run. .
鈥淓ssentially, with the results we鈥檙e seeing tonight, the value a person brings doesn't matter it鈥檚 just about the party, Johnston said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen a lot of absentee candidates that took seats this election.鈥�
Johnston added it was disrespectful to the electorate.
鈥淭o not show up and allow people to experience who you are so they can feel confident in who they鈥檙e electing.鈥�
He also said that Rustad let the province down.
鈥淚f he had actually done what he and Kevin misled us to believe, which is form a strong party out of the B.C. United candidates, it would be a lop-sided victory right now in the Conservative's favour.鈥�
Johnston said he doesn鈥檛 have much faith in the NDP either.
鈥淚 think the policies they have in place are hurting B.C. If we don鈥檛 unwind some of the things they鈥檝e been doing, getting our budget and spending under control we鈥檙e going to be in a rough place.鈥�
Given the election results (no clear winner as of Oct. 20), Johnston said it may be again time to consider , noting the .
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it was run very well. We need to get there in B.C. This idea of 50 per cent plus one equals 100 per cent of the power, it鈥檚 not an accountable model.鈥�
Johnston added he has no regrets about this election and will return to his city council seat next week.
鈥淚鈥檝e run and lost before. I ran for mayor (West 91大黄鸭) in 2014. I ran to give people choice then. I鈥檓 proud to serve my community. There will be things in the future - hard to say what they are right now.鈥�
