Familiar faces and angry voters: Will B.C. elect an Independent MLA?

Vicki Huntington says two things are critical to be elected as an Independent member of the legislature in British Columbia — trusted name recognition and an angry constituency.

Vicki Huntington says two things are critical to be elected as an Independent member of the legislature in British Columbia — 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 BC United Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon shut down the party's campaign.

Forty Independent candidates will be on the ballot, attempting to follow the path that Huntington blazed, including five former BC 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 BC United "pulled the rug out" from under its candidates in August when Falcon suspended the campaign and threw his support behind B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad.