JOHN MARTIN: "a vote for the BC Conservatives is vote to send Christy Clark’s Liberal government a message that people are tired of failed Liberal policies"

Am I disappointed in the news of John Martin leaving for the BC Liberals – YES – and its not likely the BC Liberals are going to turn away anyone that wants to become a member

BUT … for the BC Liberals to welcome former BC Conservative candidate John Martin, to be their candidate (after what he had to say during last Mays by-election) only causes one to take a fresh look at everything he said was wrong about the Liberals --- and leader Christy Clark.

Here are just a few samples of the word he spoke then:

… a vote for the BC Conservatives is vote to send  Christy Clark’s Liberal government a message that people are tired of failed Liberal policies.

… the best way to hold Christy Clark and the BC Liberal government accountable is by voting for John Martin and the BC Conservatives. I look forward to your support

… it was an honour to be invited to testify before the Senate in support of crime legislation – legislation still bitterly opposed by the BC Liberals and the & NDP

… with this new law the federal government has demonstrated it is willing to do their part to protect law abiding citizens from violent and repeat offenders … sadly, British Columbia’s government appears to have little interest in doing likewise

… the Christy Clark Liberals are trying to use the education system for their own political gain, at expense of parents, teachers & students

… I can’t think of a more crass decision (by Christy Clark) in the name of electioneering in light of this upcoming by-election.

… accused criminals had drug charges dropped due to court delays – they were thrown out because of the BC Liberal governments negligence of the justice system

… I am the only candidate that took a solid stand against a BC Liberal garbage incinerator that will pollute our air

… carbon tax, garbage incinerator, Liberal ‘catch & release’ justice system, on these issues the BC Liberals and the NDP on same page

… under the BC Liberals the ALR has become a plaything for developers and well-connected special interests

The decision by John Martin to join the BC Liberals --- the decision by the BC Liberals to welcome him to be their candidate next May – only speaks to the crass political opportunism of both John Martin – and Christy Clark.

I’m Alan Forseth in Kamloops … with the thoughts of one conservative.

For what it's worth ... a few thoughts on slates and elections

It appears that there are now two slates of candidates, within the BC Conservative Party, who are running for executive and board positions.

Wikipedia describes a ‘slate’ as … a group of candidates that run in multi-seat or multi-position elections on a common platform.

Who will we vote for, and why?

If we (members of the BC Conservative Party) want a “Never the twain shall meet” result from the board elections, we can guarantee it will happen by voting for one slate or the other.

I for one am not prepared to see lines drawn between two groups that cannot exist … OR agree with each other … within our party.

ARE YOU prepared to let that happen through inaction?

No one person, or group of persons, is the BC Conservative Party.  The BC Conservative Party is the entire membership … the grassroots foundation and core of the party.

I am finding this next part of my comments to be hard to write.  I have written, edited, and rewritten this next part several times now.  I’ve done that because I do not want anyone reading this to think I have set myself up as some kind of authority.

Being on one slate, or the other, does NOT mean a person is qualified for the job. 

I hope that you will look at each person, who has let their name stand to be on the Provincial Executive and Board for our party, as an individual. 

What do you know of them … and what qualities and experience do they bring to the table?

Are they individuals who will be willing to seek the council and wisdom of others … others who may have a difference of opinion?

Will they commit to working with all members of the board … realizing there will not always be unanimous agreement on everything that comes before them?

I’m sure you have other qualifications and ideas as well, so talk to those who are seeking a position on the board … see what answers they have to these questions I have posed, and others you have thought of.

Kipling’s poem with the line, “and never the twain shall meet” also goes on to say;

But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,

When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth!

I’ll end by saying in my opinion there can be NO room, and no place, for individual agendas, if our common goal is to elect BC Conservative MLA’s to the legislature in next year’s general election.

I’m Alan Forseth in Kamloops … with the thoughts of one conservative.  Feel free to share yours.

And now … a blatant request for your support to elect me Director at Large

Greetings fellow BC Conservative Party members...

Former party president Wayne McGrath - his time on
the phone, and a trip to Kamloops got me onboard

I have been a member of the BC Conservatives for nearly 3 years now, and since the first initial meeting of the party here in Kamloops, I have been a member of the Board of Directors for the Kamloops South Thompson riding.  

With the support of members in this area, I was also selected by the party to become the Regional Directors for Kamloops, Thompson, Fraser, Nicola.

One of the things I have enjoyed, in recent years, has been writing on Conservative values, and taking both the Liberal and NDP to task.  This has been done, in my own personal Conservative Thoughts blog.

While the Conservative Thoughts blog is not an extension of the party (it is my independent thoughts and opinion), it is fair to say not many would doubt my support for the party.

If you are not yet aware, I would like to let you know I have let my name stand for election as Director at Large on the new provincial board. Next Saturday at our AGM in Langley, I ask for your support & your vote.

If you have any questions for me, feel free to contact me by email.

Thanks...

Alan Forseth

Conservative Thoughts: http://​kamloopsthompsonbcconservatives​.blogspot.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mostlypolitics
Email:  alfman55@hotmail.com

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

• Born in Vancouver – moved at the age of 10 to Williams Lake where I grew up. 
• Attended school, married my High School sweetheart Bev, and we raised a family (2 children).   



One of life's pleasures -- my new-to-me 2002 Goldwing

• Moved in 1992 to Kamloops which is where Bev and I call home

WORK BACKGROUND:

• Worked as light equipment operator and laborer at the Gibraltar open pit copper mine from mid to late 70s
• Employed in all facets of radio (on-air, news, writing and production, sales, and management) for 30 years
• Currently employed in sales for an independent BC owned and operated web development, and marketing company, with several sector specific BC tourism websites.

Me at the 2011 BC Conservative Party
AGM which was held in Nanaimo

 POLITICAL BACKGROUND:

I came from a family with deep roots in the CCF Party, and initially was an NDP supporter. 

With the emergence of the Federal Reform Party I became a member, working on several campaigns in the Kamloops riding.  

I also became a member of the BC Reform Party, running as a candidate in the 1996 provincial election.

Like many I have been disillusioned with politics, at the provincial level, for a good number of years now.  

Only with the recent re-emergence of the provincial BC Conservative Party, have a felt able to once again take part in the process, and to encourage others to do so as well.

I thank you for your time and consideration --- and again I ask for your vote to elect me as a Director at Large, on Saturday September 22nd at the BC Conservative Party AGM in Langley.