The BC Liberals nominated Amanda Jacobson as their Nanaimo-North Cowichan candidate Tuesday, April 23.
Jacobson, a 32-year-old mortgage broker and Vancouver Island native, said this is her first time running for office and her first foray into provincial politics.
Jacobson grew up in Port Hardy and moved to Edmonton in 1997 to study political science at the University of Alberta, she said.
After graduating from U of A, she worked with a bankruptcy trustee, at law firms and as a proofreader for the Edmonton Journal.
Jacobson returned to Vancouver Island in 2008 to settle in Cedar and in 2011, she received her mortgage broker’s license from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business.
Jacobson said she’s reached a point in her life where she feels it’s really important to get involved.
“Our province is at a crossroads with this election,” she added, “and I think we really need to get involved. One of my personal goals for this election is to bring awareness to a different demographic than usually gets politically involved.”
Jacobson referred specifically to people between the ages of 20 and 45 who are completing school or setting up their homes.
“You get so busy that political involvement and even awareness kind of gets pushed to the back of your head” Jacobson added.
The issues at the head of this year’s provincial election are “really significant,” Jacobson said, “and I hope people recognize that.”
Jacobson listed job creation as a priority and she thinks the publication of a jobs creation plan is evidence of the Liberals’ commitment to creating new employment opportunities.
“With the economic problems that the whole world’s been seeing in the past five years, I think we have a great opportunity with [liquified natural gas] in particular to create jobs and keep income coming in,” she added.
Jacobson gained an appreciation for life in small-town Alberta during her 10 years as an Alberta resident.
“There are whole communities that exist mostly because of the oil field projects that are going on out there,” she said. “Fox Creek, for example. I’ve only been there a number of times myself, but it struck me as one of those places that exists because of that whole industry and the demands that come along with that. The crews that go out to work are away from home, so they need hotels, restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores. It creates a whole other economy.”
Jacobson wouldn’t comment on Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Project or any specific energy projects proposed for the province, but she remains “committed to the idea of a free-enterprise government that provides the best opportunities for people.”
On a personal note, Jacobson described herself as “definitely approachable” and she wanted people to know that if she’s elected, they can come and talk to her.
Jacobson will attend a number of coffee meet-and-greets in Chemainus and Crofton prior to attending the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce All Candidates Meeting this Thursday (May 2) at Eagles Hall.
Jacobson’s campaign office is located in Ladysmith at 541 First Ave. and she can be reached via her campaign manager George Gates at 250-701-2197.