With the 40th British Columbia general election less than a year away, political parties around the province are preparing for the upcoming campaign.
On Sunday, the BC Green Party unveiled their new candidate for Nelson-Creston at their annual general meeting.
Sjeng Derkx told the crowd gathered at the Rotary shelter at Lakeside Park that British Columbians need a voice like federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May in Victoria.
"But the Green Party never wins elections, right? A Green vote is a wasted vote, right? Well, things might be a little different this time," said Derkx.
The local Party spokesman talked about how the province seems to be in a state of change and voters might be preparing to throw out the "bums."
"We just swing from left and right but go no where," said Derkx. "But something is happening. We've had the Conservative Party rising in the polls. Right now they are neck-in-neck with the Liberals. The NDP is ahead and the Greens are behind. But we have nine months."
While the Greens may not have the union votes or money that campaigns like current MLA Michelle Mungall will have, Derkx said if the Greens work hard there could be a tight race in the riding.
In addition to topics of climate change, green jobs and environmental issues like Jumbo Wild and the Enbridge Pipelines, the new candidate spoke about how the Greens are not just a one- trick-pony.
"There is only one party in BC who wants to stop this madness," said Derkx. "That's the Green Party of BC. We need a strong voice in Victoria to tell this story [of climate change] because no one else will...There are lots of other reasons to be a Green. If I become your MLA I will not be a voting robot towing the party line. The Green Party actually allows it's representatives to represent, what an interesting concept."
Derkx emphasized that the Green Party wants communities to find solutions to local problems.
"We're the party that takes food security seriously. We're the party that wants to take money out of union and corporate politics and we want a fair and proportional voting system. We're the party that wants to stop the violence of the war on drugs. We're the party that always has and always will want to keep Jumbo Wild," he said.
The general election is scheduled for May 14, 2013.