Jaime Webbe is running as a B.C. independent candidate this election because she thinks the voices of constituents are constantly ignored by the province's two major parties.

And she pledges to bring accountability to the legislature on behalf of voters in North Vancouver-Seymour if elected this May.

After working out of the country for the UN overseas and in Washington, D.C., for about a decade, Webbe returned to North Vancouver where she grew up. She became very quickly disillusioned with the provincial politics, particularly the lack of transparency and accountability by the elected parties.

"It's very difficult to figure out what's going on in Victoria," Webbe told The Tyee in an interview today. "It was difficult to find the non-spinned version [of what's going on]."

With the Liberals and the NDP basically dominating party politics in B.C. for many years, Webbe said that opportunity for parties to work together constructively in legislature has gone out the door.

"Two party systems are notoriously bad," said Webbe. "You don't have the need for parties to court one another; no option for a coalition, which would encourage negotiation and give-and-take."

Before she decided to run as an independent, she studied all the parties' platforms.

The BC Liberals were out, because the incumbent in her riding, Jane Thornthwaite, is running again. So were the BC Conservatives, as she fundamentally disagreed with their climate change policy. And the BC NDP was difficult to get a handle on, she said.

"Speaking very bluntly, I wasn't supportive of the fact that, in order to find out what they believe in, I had to weave in snippets from speeches from many MLAs," she said. "When I couldn't even figure out what their platform was, I took a step back and said, 'This party is more closed off than any other party, at the moment.' They really seem to be holding everything close to their chest."

Webbe strongly considered running as a BC Green Party candidate, and they were very supportive of that idea as well. She agreed with many of their policies and said that they are very transparent with where they stand on issues. However, she disagreed with some of their policies, particularly on climate change, which are heavy on government involvement and regulation.

The BC Greens were "very happy with me disagreeing with some of their policies and still be running as their candidate," said Webbe. They believe MLAs should be able to go against the party they belong to and that constituents come first, which is at the crux of what Webbe would like to see in provincial politics, she said.

"I thought what the difference would be if I told people in the community 'Hi, I'm Jaime Webbe, I'm running as an independent,' rather than, 'Hi I'm Jaime Webbe, I'm running as a Green candidate.'"

After lengthy consideration and going back and forth, Webbe made the decision to run without the support of any political party. This way, she says, she can be judged on her own merits.

"I'm not being naïve," she said.

Her job at the UN was to support international negotiations without being a voting member. Without that direct voice, she was still able to influence what was discussed by speaking from her expertise and making fact-based arguments, she said.

"If I go to legislature and the NDP or Liberals don't want to take that approach, I will certainly be shouting very loudly, because I represent voters just as they do."

Webbe feels her chances are fair even though she is running in a district that has been a safe bet for the Liberals for years. She has spoken with many people who are disillusioned with the governing party, yet are reluctant to vote for the NDP.

People have moved away from the BC Liberals, she said, because of their approach to governance. They have been too focused on protecting their own than on representing the views of their constituents.

"They see them as being arrogant, irresponsible, untrustworthy and none of that is very appealing," she said.

"Lots of people think the NDP will have different policies but the same approach to governance. It's the way we treat governing as inviting strategizing, taking advantage of voters, parliament, and thinking they can get away with it and not be held accountable because they're the government."

Webbe says she's called in support from friends and contacts for advice and on-the-ground legwork, but she's managing the campaign herself. She thinks that the outcome of the election will all depend on just how hard she works.

"The stars may align," she said.

And if Webbe is not elected, she will still push for more accountability in government.

"I hope that I can convince my running mates that they need to stand up more for the constituents. If I'm not elected, I'm going to offer them my views on how they might do that," she said.

Carly Rhianna Smith is completing a practicum at The Tyee.