Voting day for the provincial NDPB次元官网网址檚 leadership election is fast approaching and local MLAs are divided in their personal endorsements.

Esquimalt-Royal Roads MLA Maurine Karagianis has endorses Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan, the only Vancouver Island candidate in the race.

B次元官网网址淚 think that John gives us the best chance at winning the next election,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淛ohn has a special way of connecting with people B次元官网网址� His depth of knowledge is unquestionable. He has a whole lifetime of experience, both in Ottawa and here.B次元官网网址�

Horgan was born and raised on Vancouver Island and lives in Langford.

B次元官网网址淗e understands coastal communities, he understands having to take the ferry in order to get goods and services on and off the Island,B次元官网网址� Karagianis said.

Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake, announced his support on Day 1 of candidate Mike FarnworthB次元官网网址檚 campaign.

Fleming says the Port Coquitlam MLA is the best candidate to help unify the party, which was split under Carole James, who stepped down as leader in December.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been in opposition for a long time, and sometimes (opposition parties) fall into a rut where they are sometimes overly critical to the point of being seen as complainers,B次元官网网址� Fleming said. B次元官网网址淢ike Farnworth, I think, will position the NDP as a government-in-waiting and make the NDP a fundamentally optimistic party.B次元官网网址�

Saanich South MLA Lana Popham came out in support of Farnworth last month.

James, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill, has not endorsed any of the candidates vying to replace her.

Other candidates vying for leadership of the party are Adrian Dix and Dana Larsen.

B次元官网网址攚ith files from Kyle Slavin