PETERS: BC, Kamloops swing dramatically back to normal and boring

That allayed potential supporters’ greatest fears about voting Conservative in many ridings.

After all, some candidates were turfed for views on social issues considered too extreme to make them electable. Other candidates with similar views were still on the ballot as Conservatives.

With Kerry-Lynne Findlay heading up the party, even the leader held views out of step with mainstream electability.

Doerkson’s appointment in the wake of Findlay’s ouster was a masterstroke because he just seemed like a normal guy.

When the NDP tested him by asking him about cosying up to Donald Trump, he passed that test in the eyes of most voters.

Looking for a safe alternative when they booted the NDP out, they needed to be assured the next premier wouldn’t steer the boat toward the waterfall and could keep control of his caucus.

With Doerkson, that seems to be the case – though time will ultimately tell.

A similar dynamic played out in the Kamloops mayoral vote.

In electing Mike O’Reilly, voters may not have chosen a radical policy shift away from what the past few councils have presented them.

What they did choose was someone who seemed capable of preventing and diffusing drama instead of stoking it.

In O’Reilly, voters saw a chance to return council to the type of normal governance functioning that we had perhaps taken for granted for generations.

Drama is out. Normal is in.

As the ancient BC curse says, “May we live in boring times.”

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by James Peters

PETERS: BC, Kamloops swing dramatically back to normal and boring

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