She was an accidental politician.
That’s how former Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington described her unique political career in a presentation to the South Delta Probus Club Wednesday.
Admitting she was flattered to be asked to be a guest speaker but not accustomed to talking about herself, Huntington reflected on how she ended up in the political arena and the circumstances that led her to become the first independent in 60 years to be elected to the provincial legislature and the first ever to be re-elected.
She decided not to seek a third term in last year’s provincial election.
“Much of my background has actually served me very well and I’m so grateful for such a fascinating life. I’ve always called myself an accidental politician,” she said.
Huntington spent much of her early career in the RCMP security service and subsequently worked with cabinet ministers in Ottawa. She also served as band manager for the Gitanmaax Indian Band.
Huntington said she applied to law school as a mature student but, despite her experience, was rejected due to lack of volunteer experience. She then saw an advertisement by the Corporation of Delta looking for volunteers to serve on civic advisory committees and wound up chosen to sit on a planning commission.
From there, one thing led to another and she was eventually asked by the Independent Delta Electors’ Association (IDEA), led by then-mayor Beth Johnson, to run on its slate for Delta council. She won and ended up serving 15 years on council before retiring from civic politics.
While still on council, she ran as an independent MLA in 2005 but lost a close race to Liberal incumbent Val Roddick.
In 2009, after she had retired from civic politics, Huntington was approached by a group of residents, including members of Tsawwassen Residents Against Higher Voltage Overhead Lines (TRAVHOL), to make another run for provincial office as an independent.
She narrowly beat Liberal cabinet minister Wally Oppal in a recount, but won by a much wider margin four years later.
“My motivation for politics is somewhat different than a lot of politicians when they enter the scene. Mainly, everything I’ve done has been motivated by a very deep belief in democracy and people’s rights to be listened to and the delivery of good government.”
Huntington said after her election in 2009 the government wasn’t sure what to do with an independent, but rather than confine her to the basement with little staff support, she was given the best office and double the budget of any other MLA. It enabled her to have a couple of research assistants as well as hire research consultants, so she could represent South Delta and speak about issues more effectively.
Huntington also praised the fine work of her constituency office staff, noting that by her second year in office other constituency offices in B.C. were calling for assistance.
“I think we served Delta well but we also served the people really well.”
