As I squeezed in among the dozens who packed Ocean Park Community Hall, I wondered how truly alone I was.

We all had federal politics on our minds. But I wondered who else in the crowd shared my goal: to decide for whom to vote this year.

There were those with singular issues, the activists who want their specific campaigns brought to the forefront. There were those who consider themselves personal friends of the federal candidates, there for moral support. And of course there were the party faithful, those who decided long ago where their vote would go.

About this latter group, I have always been mystified by a person’s dedication to join a party, especially in a system in which their distinctions seem somewhat indistinct, at least compared to other countries. These include the backroom advisors who attempt to puff up their own candidates while deflating others’, watching intently for any political gaffes and any signs of bias from members of the media.

I have no such dedication.

I attended this federal all-candidates’ meeting with the intent to select a candidate who will earn my lone ballot Oct. 14. Glancing around, I wondered whether there were others equally undecided.

I don’t want to make up my mind solely from reading the papers. Nor from research on the Internet, nor TV ads, nor election signs.

I wanted to see the candidates in action, reading from their prepared scripts, answering loaded (and unloaded) questions and justifying positions. I wanted to see them in the flesh, thinking on their feet, unrestrained by prodding from advisors and manifestos.

This is one of the reasons I was disappointed to learn incumbent Russ Hiebert (South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale) would not attend. The MP boycotted the meeting on the grounds its organizers, the Council of Canadians, were “anti-Conservative activists.”

While welcome to his opinion, I consider his decision a reckless political misstep that shows both disregard and political naiveté.

Hiebert has gambled this would not cost him the election.

Historically, at least, his bet could be considered sound. This riding (in its many forms and incarnations, joined at times with Delta or Langley) has for 34 years gone to right-wing candidates (in all their many variations) by thousands of votes. In fact, you have to go back to 1972, when the riding was simply Surrey-White Rock, to find a non-Conservative/Reform/Alliance victor: Barry Mather of the NDP.

However, it’s still a gamble.

After all, the closest match-up since 1953 (Socred George Hahn won 10,770-10,735 for the riding, then called New Westminster) was in Hiebert’s first foray in 2004, after taking the Conservative nomination from incumbent Val Meredith. His closest challenger was Liberal Judy Higginbotham, whom he beat 22,760 to 19,611.

Whether Higginbotham can muster the votes this time around is up to voters.

But I also wouldn’t discount New Democrat Peter Prontzos, Green David Blair or Progressive Canadian Brian Marlatt from earning their share of votes.

The area’s changing political landscape – through development and demographics – might just raise the profile of candidates whose parties, in the past, did not make as much of an impression.

Regrettably Blair, who missed the all-candidates’ meeting because of the flu, could not make a face-to-face impression on me. For his sake, I wish he had made the effort to have someone send his regrets.

After all, I made the effort to attend.

And I imagine neither Blair nor the sitting MP would want to lose by one lone ballot.

Lance Peverley is editor of the Peace Arch News.

lpeverley@peacearchnews.com