It was an upbeat and reflective Stephen Johnston in the wake of a third-place finish in West Kelowna-Peachland on election night (Oct. 19).

乌鸦传媒淚 was at peace coming into the end of the day here,乌鸦传媒� Johnston said about 90 minutes after the polls closed. 乌鸦传媒淚 knew I had done everything I could. I had a wonderful team behind me, a deep bench of great people.乌鸦传媒�
 
It was Johnston乌鸦传媒檚 first run at provincial politics. He garnered 5,511 votes (21.34 per cent) as an independent candidate. He finished behind B.C. NDP candidate Krystal Smith (7,118 votes/27.56 per cent) and winner Conservative Party of B.C. candidate Macklin McCall (13,194/51.09 per cent).

乌鸦传媒淚 thought the results would be a little bit different than they were,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 okay, not the day I guess.乌鸦传媒�

Johnston was one of a record 40 independent candidates (none were elected) running in this election, caused by former B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon乌鸦传媒檚 decision to suspend the party乌鸦传媒檚 campaign in August. 

He and Conservative Leader John Rustad promised a vetting of all candidates with the most suitable individual getting the nod to run. .

乌鸦传媒淓ssentially, with the results we乌鸦传媒檙e seeing tonight, the value a person brings doesn't matter it乌鸦传媒檚 just about the party, Johnston said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e seen a lot of absentee candidates that took seats this election.乌鸦传媒�

Johnston added it was disrespectful to the electorate.

乌鸦传媒淭o not show up and allow people to experience who you are so they can feel confident in who they乌鸦传媒檙e electing.乌鸦传媒�

He also said that Rustad let the province down. 

乌鸦传媒淚f he had actually done what he and Kevin misled us to believe, which is form a strong party out of the B.C. United candidates, it would be a lop-sided victory right now in the Conservative's favour.乌鸦传媒�

Johnston said he doesn乌鸦传媒檛 have much faith in the NDP either.

乌鸦传媒淚 think the policies they have in place are hurting B.C. If we don乌鸦传媒檛 unwind some of the things they乌鸦传媒檝e been doing, getting our budget and spending under control we乌鸦传媒檙e going to be in a rough place.乌鸦传媒�

Given the election results (no clear winner as of Oct. 20), Johnston said it may be again time to consider , noting the .
 
乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 think it was run very well. We need to get there in B.C. This idea of 50 per cent plus one equals 100 per cent of the power, it乌鸦传媒檚 not an accountable model.乌鸦传媒�

Johnston added he has no regrets about this election and will return to his city council seat next week.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e run and lost before. I ran for mayor (West Kelowna) in 2014. I ran to give people choice then. I乌鸦传媒檓 proud to serve my community. There will be things in the future - hard to say what they are right now.乌鸦传媒�