British Columbia is at a juncture where it may make a profound break from the past 12 years or it may choose to stay the course.
On May 14, voters in the province could turn their backs on 12 years of a Liberal coalition, returning to the NDP that has governed this province in the past.
Or, despite recent polls, voters may recall the failings of the Glen Clark era and decide to forgive the current Liberal government for mismanaging the introduction of the HST.
The two major parties offer very different visions for voters to choose from.
The B.C. Conservative Party under John Cummins and the Green Party under Jane Sterk are both trying to break onto the electoral map.
Whether or not they manage to elect an MLA somewhere, it won’t be in Boundary-Similkameen.
The Conservatives have no candidate here as a result of expelling candidate Mischa Popoff just a day before the nomination deadline. Popoff is now running as an independent.
Even Green candidate John Kwasnica himself acknowledges that if his party makes a breakthrough, it will more likely be on the coast or Vancouver Island.
While Popoff, Kwasnica and independent candidate Doug Pederson may pick up some protest votes, in Boundary-Similkameen it’s pretty much a two-person race between Liberal Linda Larson and NDP candidate Sam Hancheroff.
Both of the two leading candidates have experience in local politics.
Larson has served a number of years on Oliver town council, part of that time as mayor.
Hancheroff is a retired teacher who has served since 2004 as a school trustee, also serving with irrigation districts in Kaleden and Okanagan Falls.
This election will be very important not only for our province, but also for residents of Boundary-Similkameen.
We will be voting for the man or woman who will speak for our communities – either from within government or the opposition – voicing our concerns on numerous important provincial questions.
Indirectly, we will also be voting for the party and leader who will govern this province for the next four years.
Whether you decide to vote for the status quo or a new direction, we urge you to get out and vote.