FORSETH – When it comes to public fiascos, we’re no longer the Wild West

THIS MORNING, I shared information regarding a new Mainstreet Research poll of BC Conservative members that shows two candidates are basically neck-and-neck in support to become the next leader of the party.

The poll shows Caroline Elliott with 21.2 percent support, closely followed by Peter Milobar at 20.8 percent. Iain Black, in this poll, is a distant third with just 8.4 percent support.

After seeing and reading the story, Chelsea Meadus had this to say:

The weighted vote means it really might not matter who is popular. The 3rd place winner could win as leader; that’s how Andrew Wilkinson won. If this vote goes three rounds. People need to understand how the vote works.

For me the most important factor is someone who currently is NOT an MLA. The infighting and lack of unity requires an outsider. The lack of training is really impacting some ridings. Some of these new MLAs have no idea what they are doing, and nobody is noticing except their voters.

Someone who is already in the party could have repaired this by now, and that has not happened. How could that person suddenly get the respect from their colleagues they don’t already have?

I’m open to someone explaining how I’m wrong on the above statement.

This party is a coalition. There are MLAs who vote more Liberal; just look at the votes where people can vote their conscience. The leader is going to need to manage that and put in place a set of values that MLAs need to agree to, to form an understanding voters can depend on. Right now, it’s the Wild West, zero consistency.

Sorry Chelsea, but I have to disagree.

In the months since former leader John Rustad stepped down, we have seen strong caucus unity, they have remained focused on presenting clear and concise policy alternatives to what is coming from David Eby’s NDP government, AND there has been NO public squabbling.

In her comment, Chelsea stated that, “Someone who is already in the party could have repaired this by now, and that has not happened.”

I have to assume that she is referring to Peter Milobar, who is the only remaining MLA in the leadership race, after four others dropped out. Her belief does not seem to resonate with party members as this Mainstreet poll also showed that when asked who is best to unify the party and defeat the NDP, Milobar leads at 30.6% vs. Elliott’s 26.0%.

I for one am proud of the work our Conservative Party of BC caucus is doing.  They ARE showing the people of BC we now have a viable option to the disaster we currently face under NDP Premier David Eby’s government.

With that in mind, there should be NO reason why that would not continue with the only current MLA still seeking the party’s leadership — Peter Milobar — if that is what members choose.

We are NO LONGER the wild west, as Meadus called it, when it comes to public fiascos. Thank goodness for that!

And a big thank you thank you needs to go out to Interim Leader Trevor Halford, for his work in ensuring we have caucus unity, and consistency in our messaging.