Editor:
I am a simple person. I’m a nurse, a mom and a pretty good friend. In my spare time, I volunteer. For the last 32 years I have sat on one kind of board or another. From our local nursing association years ago, to minor hockey now, the opportunity to be involved in my community has always spoken to me, from fundraising on behalf of raising money for our CT scanner years ago to more recent adventures with the Ruby Slipper Fund.
I believe I have built a certain amount of personal credibility in this community as a result. Hence, when new opportunities present themselves, I am very careful about which ones I hang my hat on. Such was the case with the Kim Darwin Campaign. Although I knew who Kim was in the community and had seen her name on many attendee lists for Ruby Slipper events, we had never met. Intrigued at the opportunity to play a role in her campaign, yet thinking surely she could find someone with more experience, we met. It did not take long before I recognized what a quality person she was – her work ethic and integrity shone through pretty quickly. A week later, I was on the campaign train.
You all know the rest of the story. We are incredibly proud of what we were able to accomplish and so proud of our team of volunteers. However, I cannot let the campaign come to a close without addressing an unfortunate choice made by some during the last 72 hours of the campaign. And as I do so, please understand I am in no way suggesting that this altered the numbers of votes cast our way. This is not “sour grapes.” When people throw themselves into the political ring they take huge risks, both personal and financial. There is only one winner, meaning the other two or three need to return to their “normal lives” after the election is over. So we owe these people not only gratitude for their part in the process but also the respect of not damaging their reputation while they are taking part in that process. And for that reason alone, I cannot let accusations made towards Kim Darwin, and our campaign, go unanswered.
As a last ditch attempt to get voters to vote NDP, a local resident sent out a letter, framed as research, to an email list. A somewhat watered down version of the same letter was then sent out by Alliance 4 Democracy to their email list. The letter took on a somewhat viral nature and we soon began receiving questions and emails of concerns from the world over. So if you received the letter let me be clear on a couple of things:
Accusations that Andrew Weaver’s visit to the Sunshine Coast and Powell River Chamber of Commerce event were planned in partnership with the Mathew Wilson campaign are completely false.
1. Andrew Weaver’s visit to the Sunshine Coast was organized by our campaign, the purpose of which was to support Kim’s campaign, our volunteers and supporters.
2. The Powell River Chamber of Commerce event was organized by Kim Darwin and me via phone call over eggs benny at Pebbles on May 1. Surprisingly, we had no control over which member of the Wilson campaign shares what on their Facebook page.
3. Yes, there were three people on the bus. I am not sure why this was a crime but just in case this is essential information, Mr. Weaver flew into Sechelt and the bus met him here. Fifteen volunteers loaded on the bus and went to Powell River.
I am not sure what the intention of Alliance 4 Democracy was, in sending out this letter to their email list. I asked for, and received, their Statement of Purpose. Sharing this nonsense does not seem to fit within their Statement of Purpose. There was no attempt to vet the information; there was no request for clarification directed to our team. The email was simply shared far and wide. No matter whose finger was on the send button, the organization needs to take responsibility for sending it out. As a result, I am waiting for a response from them and a subsequent apology to Kim Darwin and her campaign team.
The whole effort to increase the NDP vote by throwing mistruths at our campaign is distasteful and tiresome. And the tactic is getting old. Every Green vote we received was as a result of someone wanting to vote for Kim and/or the BC Green Party. The term “earn your vote” should be taken seriously. Campaigning is incredibly hard work for the candidates, and their teams. Efforts to discredit others, in an attempt to “earn their vote,” is not only lazy but is at the root of what is keeping 40 per cent of the electorate at home.
Brenda Rowe, Campaign Manager, Kim Darwin Campaign
