Vicki Huntington says two things are critical to be elected as an independent member of the legislature in British Columbia B次元官网网址� trusted name recognition and an angry constituency.

She would know.

In 2009, Huntington became the first independent MLA elected to the B.C. legislature in 60 years and went on to become the first ever woman re-elected as an independent, representing Delta until 2017.

Seven years later, she thinks the political landscape is primed to again to elect an independent in the Oct. 19 election following the decision by B.C. United Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon shut down the partyB次元官网网址檚 campaign.

Forty independent candidates will be on the ballot, attempting to follow the path that Huntington blazed, including five former B.C. United incumbents: Mike Bernier, Dan Davies, Tom Shypitka, Coralee Oakes and Karin Kirkpatrick, who were left on their own after the collapse of the party.

Former NDP MLA Adam Walker, who was kicked out of caucus last year over a human resources complaint, is also seeking re-election as an independent.

Huntington said in an interview that B.C. United B次元官网网址減ulled the rug outB次元官网网址� from under its candidates in August when Falcon suspended the campaign and threw his support behind B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad.

She said there may be enough voters who donB次元官网网址檛 feel at home with either the NDP or the Conservatives, and who are angry enough with Falcon that theyB次元官网网址檒l vote for an incumbent name they recognize.

B次元官网网址淚 think if theyB次元官网网址檙e well known, if they did a good job at being in MLA, if people are as upset with FalconB次元官网网址檚 activities as he deserves, then I think they will have a good chance of winning,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淚n the case of the Conservatives, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of nervousness in the province, both federally and provincially, IB次元官网网址檇 say. So, if an incumbent can understand whether the riding is nervous or whether they really are conservative, they should be able to B次元官网网址� set up some sort of campaign that tells people what the difference is and how they can be represented.B次元官网网址�

Huntington came to power in Delta after years as a popular local councillor and following fights with the provincial government over the community hospital and highway construction.

She beat Liberal heavyweight and former judge Wally Oppal by 32 votes.

Huntington said there is a misconception that independents donB次元官网网址檛 have power in the legislature.

She said her budget was enough to hire two research assistants dedicated to the concerns of her riding, rather than having to share with many party members.

After negotiations with then-opposition house leader Mike Farnworth, Huntington was also allowed to ask two questions a week during question period in the legislature.

She said in established political parties it would be B次元官网网址渦nheard ofB次元官网网址� for a single MLA to get that many questions to ask specifically about their ridings.

B次元官网网址淚 had, on three or four occasions, members of the opposition and even a member of the government party come to me and say, B次元官网网址榁icki, I have a critical issue in my riding. IB次元官网网址檓 not going to be able to get up and ask a question B次元官网网址� government canB次元官网网址檛 ask questions B次元官网网址� Would you ask a question for me?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淎nd in two cases, I did.B次元官网网址�

But holding the mantle alone is not without its challenges, particularly when running an election campaign.

She said larger donors didnB次元官网网址檛 want to publicly put their name behind an independent candidate.

B次元官网网址淥bviously people were voting for me, but they didnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily send me money because, of course, itB次元官网网址檚 all public,B次元官网网址� she said.

She said some of the former B.C. United MLAs may not have the same problem because of their established connections.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 get the big pockets giving you the money when youB次元官网网址檙e an Independent. Whereas this time, IB次元官网网址檒l bet the big pockets are still helping,B次元官网网址� she said.

Davies, who is running in the Peace River North Riding he represented as a B.C. United MLA since 2017, said his campaign was B次元官网网址渇ully fundedB次元官网网址� before FalconB次元官网网址檚 decision, but as an Independent he has no access to the money which he says B次元官网网址渨as stolen.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 had already purchased my signs out of that fundraised money through the B.C. United, and they were right in my campaign office. So, I already had those signs,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淣ot only did I have to go buy new signs, but some of my bigger signs, I had to repurchase with my own money, my newly fundraised money. I had to buy them back again from the B.C. United.B次元官网网址�

Davies said his campaign also lost critical data that was held by B.C. United, including volunteer lists.

He said FalconB次元官网网址檚 move left his campaign working B次元官网网址減retty much from ground zero again, or probably even a couple feet under,B次元官网网址� but he has since rebounded under the independent banner.

Davies said changes in election law since Huntington ran mean that large corporate donations are not available, but his constituents have been more than willing to open their chequebooks.

University of the Fraser Valley political scientist Hamish Telford said having six incumbent MLAs running as independents B次元官网网址渋s unprecedentedB次元官网网址� in a B.C. election.

He said in ridings where the governing NDP is not a factor B次元官网网址� such as parts of the north B次元官网网址� and the fight is between a Conservative and a former B.C. United incumbent, the independents could have a B次元官网网址済round advantage.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hey are known in the communities, theyB次元官网网址檝e campaigned before, they know how to do it. They know where their supporters are. But theyB次元官网网址檙e facing a big Conservative wave,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚n other places, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a three-way race. There will be strong NDP candidates, and with three-way races, itB次元官网网址檚 very hard to predict outcomes.B次元官网网址�

Huntington said if two Independents win it would be enough to qualify them as a party in the legislature B次元官网网址� something that could change the dynamic, especially if the election is close.

B次元官网网址淪o, you might see a new party come out of this, and you might see a concerted effort at a coalition within the legislature itself,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淎nd that changes the dynamic, because depending on how close the election actually is, the Independents, if theyB次元官网网址檙e a coalition, could hold a balance of power in this legislature, and that would be very interesting.B次元官网网址�

Davies said any talk of forming a party is a hard thing to consider before election day.

B次元官网网址淔irst of all, what does the legislature look like after Oct. 19? How close it is, whoB次元官网网址檚 sitting there as independent candidates or Green Party candidates?B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淵ou know the other thing, and this is the big one, I will only do what is right for Peace River North, and if that decision to form a coalition is whatB次元官网网址檚 best for Peace River North, then so be it. If itB次元官网网址檚 joining the B.C. Conservatives, you know, obviously, after a conversation with (leader) John (Rustad), then thatB次元官网网址檚 the decision that will be made.B次元官网网址�