Ashton applauds Liberals’ weighted vote

Penticton Herald Staff  Monday, February 14, 2011 
Penticton Mayor Dan Ashton says smaller communities have reason to applaud the B.C. Liberal Party decision to use a weighted ballot in its upcoming leadership vote.  Ashton was among some 800 party members who attended a special meeting at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Saturday. Delegates, including those watching the proceedings via video link in Kelowna, Cranbrook and other communities, voted overwhelmingly in favour of a weighted ballot at the Feb. 26 leadership convention.  Ashton said Sunday he supports the new system, designed to give party members in smaller communities a more equal voice in choosing the new Liberal leader.   “I think it‘s a very fair and open process,” he said. “There‘s a large demographic base in the Lower Mainland, but we‘re all huge contributors to the economy of British Columbia.”  Ashton hopes other parties will also use the weighted ballot.  “British Columbia is British Columbia. Let‘s have equal representation across the board,” he said.  Under the Liberals‘ weighted ballot vote, each of the 85 ridings in the province will be given 100 points,  regardless of how many signed-up members the riding may have. Voters mark their ballots once, but choose their preferences in descending order. 

The Vancouver delegates also had an opportunity Saturday to directly meet the six leadership candidates.  Ashton would not reveal who he is backing in the vote, but said he was impressed by the three acknowledged frontrunners Kevin Falcon, George Abbott and Christy Clark.  “I‘m leaning in one direction, but I‘m still garnering more information on it,” he said. “Kevin Falcon is a definite leader in my mind and those other two individuals have the same status.”  Ashton added although he has previously stated he might consider running for the Liberal nomination in Penticton at some point in the future (should incumbent MLA Bill Barisoff decide to retire), he is not forsaking city politics. “Right now, my ambition is to get re-elected in the City of Penticton as the mayor,” he said. “My first priority at this point in time, is the City of Penticton.”