Municipal candidates in the last minute dash to reach voters before election day

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WATCH: In sports terms, it’s a full court press. Across Vancouver Island, municipal candidates are knocking on doors, and talking with as many constituents as possible. It’s the last full day of campaigning before the election Saturday. Mary Griffin reports.

Victoria mayoral candidate Stephen Hammond was busy Friday. His campaign is down to hitting every home and strategizing with volunteers about where to go next.

“Hi my name is Stephen Hammond, and I’m running for mayor of Victoria. are you voting in tomorrow’s election?” Hammond asked at different residences.

In 2014, 89 votes made the difference in the mayor’s race, so Hammond is hustling.

“We’re giving it all we’ve got. At the campaign headquarters, they’re giving everything there so I don’t have to worry about it. And we’re just getting every last vote that we can,” Hammond said.

Meanwhile, in Vic West, his opponent Lisa Helps was also pounding the pavement and making the rounds.

With election day on the horizon, Helps is taking nothing for granted.

“Honestly, when I show up on people’s doorstep, they are like, wow. I really admire your courage. That’s kind of the message I get a lot,” Helps said.

Royal Roads political scientist David Black believes this election is between the left and right.

“Is there enough of an anti-helps vote out there that will go to Hammond and carry him to victory?” Hammond said.

Another key mayoral race is in Nanaimo where NDP MLA Leonard Krog is up against challenger Don Hubbard. Issues include B.C.’s largest tent city and infighting among councillors.

“A move from the ‘bite me’ government under the outgoing mayor to what they hope will be the boring government under either Leonard Krog or Don Hubbard,” Black said.

In Saanich, the island’s largest municipality, the incumbent mayor Richard Atwell’s main challenger councillor Fred Haynes.

“The Saanich race has mostly been focused on internals, on governance, governing philosophy, on the ability of a council to get business done. It’s the most bitter campaign in the CRD,” Black said.

In order to vote in B.C.’s municipal elections, you must be 18 years old or older by Oct. 20, be a Canadian citizen, and have lived in B.C. for at least six months.

If you are registered to vote, you will already have your voter card. Bring your card with you or two pieces of ID that proves who you are and where you live to the polling station. If you have moved recently, you must be a resident of that municipality for 30 days. Anyone with questions could go to the Elections BC website https://elections.bc.ca/, or their municipality’s website but polls are open at eight a.m. until eight p.m.  More information on candidate profiles in all municipalities, go to the website CivicInfo B.C. https://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/

Mary GriffinMary Griffin

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