Steve Housser will be the Liberal candidate for the Cowichan Valley riding for the next provincial election in 2017.
It’s the second time Housser has run for the seat for the Liberals after losing to the NDP’s Bill Routley in the provincial election in 2013.
He was the sole Liberal nominee for the riding and was acclaimed by the party on Tuesday, July 5.
Housser was born on Vancouver Island and has lived in the Shawnigan Lake area for 16 years.
He is the former legislative bureau chief for CBC in Victoria, and currently works for The Nature Trust of British Columbia, which serves to protect important ecosystems and sensitive habitats.
Housser has established himself in the Cowichan Valley community through his volunteer work with the South Cowichan Rotary Club, South Cowichan Rotary Foundation, and the Canucks Autism Network.
“The Cowichan Valley is a special place with so much to offer,” he said. “Working together, we can provide sustainable economic growth that will bring opportunities for families throughout the riding.”
Housser said he is drawn to politics, and to the Liberal Party, which he believes will win the next provincial election, because he “wants to make a difference in the community”.
“The best way to do that is to have a seat at the table, because I can have more influence there,” he said.
“If there’s one lesson I’ve learned in my time covering both federal and provincial politics is that it’s important for a community like the Cowichan Valley to have a representative in government rather than in opposition.”
Housser said that among his top priorities are a new hospital for the Cowichan Valley, a much-needed hospice facility, and he will also advocate for investments in health, education, the environment, and transportation.
Housser acknowledged that the Liberals have struggled for votes in the Valley in recent years, with the NDP dominating much of Vancouver Island, but he’s prepared to work hard to gain support in the riding.
“There will be a lot of door knocking and other means to get out there and raise my profile, and I hope people will find me to be a good, ethical person who can represent them strongly in the legislature,” he said.
The next provincial election will be held on May 9, 2017.