Riding description
NDP ferries critic Maurine Karagianis is seeking a third term in office in this riding.
Attempting to unseat her is Liberal Chris Ricketts, a former president of the Canadian Home Builders Association of B.C.
Susan Low, a local business consultant and volunteer, has been running an active grassroots campaign for months as the B.C. Green Party candidate.
The riding includes Esquimalt, View Royal and Colwood.
Sewage treatment is expected to be a key issue in the riding, with the recent purchase of land in Esquimalt as the potential location of a biosolid sludge facility. All three candidates oppose the decision.
The relatively middle-class riding has a higher-than-average number of renters, and is home to three of the region's largest employers: CFB Esquimalt, Victoria General Hospital and Royal Roads University.
The future of the E&N rail line, and commuter option from the West Shore to downtown Victoria has also been an issue.
Candidates
B.C. NDP: Maurine Karagianis (incumbent)
MaurineKaragianis.bcndp.ca
twitter.com/mkaragianis
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maurine-Karagianis/7661314937
• Age: 62
• Previous elected experience: Elected three times as an Esquimalt councillor, then chosen by voters as MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin in 2005 and re-elected to Esquimalt-Royal Roads in 2009.
• Community involvement: Maurine has a long and proud record of community engagement and public service. She has years of experience as a small businessperson in the fashion industry, publishing and consulting on affordable housing. Maurine is a champion for environmental stewardship and community engagement and has proudly called Esquimalt home for more than 25 years.
• Top three issues: Equality and affordability, transportation, sewage treatment
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B.C. LIBERALS: Chris Ricketts
www.chrisricketts.ca
twitter.com/chrisricketts49
facebook.com/Chris Ricketts Campaign 2013
• Occupation: Award-winning residential home builder
• Previous elected experience: None
• Community involvement: Past President Westshore Chamber of Commerce, Past President of Canadian Homebuilders Association (CHBA) of Victoria, Past President CHBA BC, Director of Construction Safety Network, First Chair of Built Green Society of BC, City of Victoria Advisory Design Panel, Colwood Rotary Member, Director Sooke Chamber, Westshore Arts & Culture Centre Advisory Committee
• Top three issues: Sewage treatment, transportation and ensuring a strong economy
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GREEN PARTY OF B.C.: Susan Low
www.SusanLow2013.com
twitter.com/SusanLow2013 or twitter.com/SusanLow4MLA
facebook.com/SusanLow2013
• Age: 36
• Occupation: Self-employed strategic planning consultant
• Previous elected experience: None
• Community involvement: Susan has volunteered with Victoria Foundation, Junior Achievement, Bridges for Women Society, Young Naturalists’ Society, and has done strategic planning work with many other community organizations. She is a member of Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and sits on her strata council. Susan has been actively campaigning against the CRD’s approach to sewage treatment.
• Top three issues: Local economy, social services, sewage treatment.
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INDEPENDENT: Josh Steffler
joshsteffler.wordpress.com
twitter.com/Josh_Steffler
facebook.com/JoshStefflerForIndependentMla
• Age: 33
• Occupation: Baker
• Previous elected experience: None
• Community involvement: I was involved in the Fight HST campaign, I am a co-founder of a community grassroots action network called "We Are Change Victoria", I am a co-founder of the community access news show "freedom Free For All", I have organized rallies for many community issues, and I live, work and play in my community
• Top three issues: High taxes, erosion of civil liberties, unsustainable provincial debt
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2009 election results
1. Maurine Karagianis (NDP) – 11,514 votes, 52.92% of total vote
2. Carl Ratsoy (Liberal) – 6,579 votes, 30.24% of total vote
3. Jane Sterk (Green) – 3,664 votes, 16.84% of total vote
2005 election results
1. Maurine Karagianis (NDP) – 12,545 votes, 49.63% of total vote
2. Tom Woods (Liberal) – 9,650 votes, 38.18% of total vote
3. Jane Sterk (Green) – 2,672 votes, 10.57% of total vote
2001 election results
1. Arnie Hamilton (Liberal) – 9,544 votes, 45.79% of total vote
2. Maurine Karagianis (NDP) – 6,258 votes, 30.03% of total vote
3. Marilyn Sundeen (Green) – 3,685 votes, 17.68% of total vote
Riding statistics
• Population (2011): 50,170
• Median age: 42.4 (B.C. average 41.9)
• Percentage of people younger than 15: 14.1% (B.C. average 14.6%)
• Seniors in private households: 7,490, or 14.9% of population (B.C. average 14.6%)
• Residents whose mother tongue is an unofficial language: 8.5% (B.C. average 26.2%)
• Top unofficial languages: German (520), Punjabi (325), Spanish (325)
• Average household income, before tax (2006): $65,100 (B.C. average $67,675)
(Source: Statistics Canada)
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