From one Steveston street to the next, NDP candidate Scott Stewart can`t work out which party is carrying the most support across the riding.
While out pounding the beat and knocking on doors, the retired police officer has experienced unexpected support in a Liberal neighbourhood then eyebrow-raising opposition at a house flanked by NDP campaign signs.
In a traditionally strong Liberal riding - John Yap was one of the first declared winners across B.C. in 2009 - Stewart senses there are a lot of undecided voters out there this time around.
And he`s making it his job to go out and convince those people he deserves their mark on the ballot sheet next Tuesday.
``I`ve never known this place to be so unclear as to where the big support lies,`` said Stewart, a born and bred Stevestonite, who lives on the very edge of the riding on Steveston Highway.
``The biggest thing that I keep hearing is that people are keen for a change and that this government has run out of ideas.
``The poverty issue in Steveston alone chokes me right up. There are kids in my daughter`s Grade 6 class that sometimes just have an apple for lunch.
``The poverty line has crept up and up in Richmond and we need to do something to reverse that.``
Stewart says that, over the years, he`s delivered far too many food hampers to needy families in the riding and he wants to put that right by investing more money in education and childcare.
``We`ve also got to get to grips with the hydro rates and have none of these surprise taxes after an election,`` added Stewart, who`s also sensitive about what he perceives as lack of funding in government-run seniors homes.
``I know of one place where some seniors only get one bath a week due to staff shortages,`` said Stewart.
``These are the people who put Bandaids on our knees when we were kids and made us peanut butter sandwiches. We have to do better.``
Stewart said he`s not heard much at all at people`s doors about the proposed jet fuel delivery plan - which could see millions of tons of jet fuel being barged past Steveston up the south arm of the Fraser River.
``(The NDP) are not committing either way on that right now, but we do need a more complete study of the risks,`` he said.
A bigger concern for Stewart is the lack of communication between Victoria and the City of Richmond and its people.
A ``conduit`` is urgently required, insisted Stewart, to bolster Richmond`s presence on the floor of the Legislature.
``I will be super easy for the folks of Richmond to reach and I will keep right on top of all the issues that affects them,`` he said.
``I think that`s one of the things that`s been missing here these last 12 years.``
