"I was asked and asked by friends who said I should step up to the plate, and finally I did," said North Cowichan council hopeful Lura McCallum.
"I'm running because I care about a lot of issues. I'm definitely not a one-issue candidate."
So, what's she looking at? "We're facing tremendous issues with our watershed. Global warming does affect us. We had almost 35 per cent less rainfall in the summer and then we're having rain events like we just had this week. That is all part of global warming. We have to do our bit. It all begins with us," she said, adding that leaving the planet in good shape for her grandchildren is important to her, too.
As someone who has been successfully self-employed for almost 40 years, she cares about small businesses.
"They are the heart and soul of our communities. And our farms and wineries are small businesses, too. I care about them all. Nobody knows how hard it is to run a small business until you've done it. I've done it all my life.
"I do care about fiscal responsibility. I've had to balance my own budget for 40 years and I realize sometimes you have to be creative," she said.
Going around to meet people at their homes has given her insights, McCallum said.
"People have multiple issues. They are very concerned about what's going to happen as we move forward. I want to be available to all the constituents and work with them," she said. "We have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in this Valley. We should call on it to help solve difficulties, perhaps a little differently than we always have."