Two-way race:
STERK, Jane
VS.
KARAGIANIS, Maurine
Esquimalt-Royal Roads is a battleground riding, and it could turn out to be a nasty suprise for the NDP.
Jane Sterk is the leader of the BC Green Party (and, in our opinion, most likely to win a seat). She was elected as an Esquimalt councillor in 2005, where she placed first of all candidates. Now she's taking on NDP MLA Maurine Karagianis who serves as the transportation critic to the government.
Maurine also served on Esquimalt council before her election to the legislature.
Both candidates are former business owners and were councillors in the same township. Maurine has the edge as an incumbant, but not as a very popular or effective one. Sterk's position on transportation issues has put pressure on the NDP and certainly pushed them into corners on issues such as the Gateway project - the NDP is divided on its support, something that could be used against Maurine.
Meanwhile, Jane might be the best shot for the Greens, but will she be effective enough to prove to the people of this riding that she deserves to replace someone who is not in government - or to even convince them that their vote is worth changing at the risk of letting a BC Liberal win.
Of course, the BC Liberals could very well play a role in this race depending on their candidate. A strong candidate can both help and hurt the Greens (help by splitting the vote three ways, hurt by taking away Jane as the main opponent).
Our first battleground BC profile goes to Esquimalt-Royal Roads, a riding we will be watching very closely on election night.
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