In 2009: Liberal Eric Foster defeated NDP candidate Mark Olsen by over 1000 votes, 37-32%. Green Party candidate Huguette Allen received 4,029, the second most out of anyone in her party.
History & Geography: Created for the 1991 election, Vernon-Monashee consists of the city of Vernon and the many small towns to the east along highway 6, including Coldstream, Blue Springs, and Cherryville. It, like the entire northern Okanagan, has never voted for an NDP candidate provincially. The Liberals do best in the suburbs and outskirts of Vernon, while the NDP are traditionally competitive in the city centre.
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Basic Stats:
Population: 61405 (9th)
Size: 5038 km (24th)
Density: 12.2 people/km (62nd)
Candidates
Liberals-Eric Foster: The government whip, Foster was first elected in 2009. He was mayor of Lumby, a small town east of Vernon, from 2005 to 2008, and a city councillor for 12 years before that. He was also a director of the North Okanagan Regional District. Outside of politics, Foster has worked in the forest industry and as a volunteer policeman.
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NDP-Mark Olsen: A bus driver, Olsen is the president of the local CUPE, representing district support staff. He ran in the last provincial election, receiving 32% of the vote and losing by just over 1000 votes to Eric Foster.
Conservatives-Scott Anderson: A businessman, Anderson owns a corporate communications company. He’s also an officer with the Canadian Forces Reserves, and has been a campaign manager twice for the Reform Party. Anderson ran for Vernon city council in 2011, but finished in 10th out of 15 candidates.
Greens-Rebecca Helps: The executive director of the Green Party’s BC wing, Helps lives in Port Moody, but decided to run in the constituency after the party could not find a local candidate.
Independent-Korry Zepik:
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