In his youth, Green Party candidate Brendan Ralfs signed up to be a forest firefighter, hoping to make a difference in his community.
Now, more than 20 years later, Ralfs is trying to do that again, not as a firefighter, but as a politician, running for MLA in the new Langford-Juan de Fuca riding.
B次元官网网址淲orking as a forest firefighter instilled in me a real passion for public service and also an interest in climate change, seeing that as a major threat facing B.C. and the planet,B次元官网网址� said Ralfs, who promised himself that after he returned to Victoria full time, heB次元官网网址檒l throw his shoulder behind the wheel of a political party and get more engaged.
B次元官网网址淭he Green Party was the one for me with the platform. I had the platform, I had the values of the party and I respected the leader,B次元官网网址� he said.
With this election approaching, he felt there was a need to step up his game and finally chase that political dream.
B次元官网网址淭hey were looking for someone to run in this riding. I didnB次元官网网址檛 have to think too long. It felt like the right thing to do,B次元官网网址� Ralfs said, adding running in an election can be a little weird for someone who hasnB次元官网网址檛 done it before.
B次元官网网址淪ome parts of it felt quite unnatural, such as billboards with your face on it,B次元官网网址� he laughed.
Transportation is a big one too for Ralfs, especially with the Colwood Crawl, recognizing itB次元官网网址檚 the most pressing issue in Sooke where people really need some resolution.
Born and raised in Victoria, Ralfs grew up in a family where politics were part of the dinner table discussion; as such, he was always engaged individually with politics since an early age.
He studied French immersion in public school before tackling English and Latin at the University of Victoria. After joining forest fighting forces, he wanted to do it for the first two years, but liked it so much, he stuck around for another 20.
HeB次元官网网址檚 also a movie lover and has been involved in martial arts since he was 13, given his passion for health and staying fit.
As far as the election goes, Ralfs says no one owes him a vote, but if they look at the Green Party platform and him as a candidate and feel they can relate, then by all means make the move.
B次元官网网址淚f you feel that we best represent your vision for a political future in B.C. and who youB次元官网网址檇 like to see as your advocate representing you, then please vote for me,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭he most important thing is that people vote. IB次元官网网址檇 be happy to lose to a 90 per cent voter turnout than win or lose to a 50 per cent voter turnout.B次元官网网址�
