Another candidate has emerged in Columbia River-Revelstoke. Duncan MacLeod of Kimberley will run an an independent candidate.
MacLeod, although he has a background in political science and was very much involved in politics in his younger days, is not by any definition a ‘typical politician’.
MacLeod says he got an inside look at politics as a student delegate to a leadership contest. The whole thing, he says, left him disillusioned, cynical and discouraged.
“I stayed away for 25 years,” he said.
But now, MacLeod is going to run as an independent in order to bring forward the idea that things can be done differently. He calls political parties the most anti-democratic institutions in the Canadian democracy.
“I want to focus on democratic reform,” he said. “It can be done differently. We need campaign finance reform, election reform and institutional reform.
“Political parties don’t serve the people. They are a plutocracy, almost an aristocracy.”
Macleod says he plans to run on nothing.
“I don’t want donations, there will be no expenses except gas to get to the debates. I want show people it can be done differently.
“I want to talk about the issues that need to be addressed. There are fundamental issues with democracy. I want to see real electoral reform, not what the Liberals were proposing. Those straw man attempts and machinations were designed to distract.”
MacLeod is not a fan of proportional representation because it still relies on political parties.
“I have no problem with people identifying similarities and running as a slate, but the existence of political parties is a big problem in our democracy.”
Macleod will be attending all the debates and knocking on doors to talk to voters in the days leading up to the election.
Also announcing late this week was Rylan Kashuba who will be running for the Libertarian Party. Nikki Fredrickson of the Columbia Valley Pioneer reported that Mr. Kashuba’s family has been residing in the Upper Columbia Valley since the early 1950s and Mr. Kashuba is currently residing in Dry Gulch working as a welder/fabricator at Max Helmer Construction Ltd. Mr. Kashuba also operates Reel Axe Adventures, a guided fishing charters and tours company.
Mr. Kashuba explained that the Libertarian Party stands for less government and less taxes, and wants less authoritarianism and more liberty.
“I contacted the Libertarians to find out more information about their platform. I found I really agree with their ideas. There were no Libertarian candidates in my area so we decided to put my name in,” said Mr. Kashuba.
As a latecomer to the political race, Mr. Kashuba said he wanted to represent a different option for people.
“My motivation was to have a new party to vote for on our ballot. I don’t agree with any of the other party’s platforms or track records. I’m running as a paper candidate. No campaigning. I just hope to represent a different option for people,” said Mr. Kashuba.
As for upcoming appearances, Mr. Kashuba told The Pioneer he will not be attending the All Candidates Forum on April 27th. He said he’d like to attend the BC Wildlife Federation town hall meeting on Friday, April 21st, but probably won’t have time to.
Mr. Kashuba had previously told East Kootenay radio station the Drive FM that he has no interest in being a politician, but that he put his name forward under the Libertarian banner, so that he and others with a Libertarian bent would have a party on the ballot so they could v ote their conscience during the May 9th election.
To learn more about the party visit http://www.libertarian.bc.ca/.
That brings the total candidates to six, including Justin Hooles of Kimberley (Ind), Doug Clovechok (BC Liberals), Gerry Taft (NDP), Samson Boyer (Green Party) and MacLeod and .