All eyes on Saanich in federal election
Saanich News
The winds of change may be picking up in Saanich, says one political scientist.
After 11 years with Gary Lunn at the helm of the Saanich-Gulf Islands, there's been a lot of speculation over the last few weeks about a change at the top.
On Sept. 23, NDP candidate Julian West stepped down after a public scandal from the mid-90s resurfaced in the press. West's resignation came too late for his name to be taken off the ballot.
But the hole left by West's departure has left remaining candidates scrambling to attract NDP supporters, who made up 27 per cent of the vote in the last election.
"New Democrats will probably decide that Briony (Penn) is a fairly left-wing Liberal," said Dennis Pilon, a political science professor at the University of Victoria who has analyzed the local races.
"I think the Liberals are going to win that riding but it will depend on how strong Lunn is on the ground," Pilon qualified. "If he can get more of his voters to the polls, then he may have the advantage."
In Victoria, Pilon predicts NDP incumbent Denise Savoie will increase her plurality. "I was suprised to see the Liberals didn't put up a very strong candidate, or at least not a very well known one, given how close it was last time."
In the Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca riding, Pilon says he wouldn't be surprised to see Keith Martin win his sixth election.
"He has an individual bonus that some members have because he's created a profile above and beyond the party he belongs to. Because he's a former Reform party (MP), he's a bit of a maverick."
Copyright 2008 Saanich News