James Crosty, an independent candidate in New Westminster, received a nasty surprise over the weekend when he learned, via a Google alert, of a website established in his name.

The site is one page, with head shots of Crosty, Christy Clark, and former premiers Bill Vander Zalm and Gordon Campbell.

Below are the words: "Please, on May 14th, make your vote count. Another friendly face, or real change? Say no to James Crosty."

Crosty reported the site to Elections BC, which confirmed that it constitutes unauthorized election advertising. The site is registered to a company called Domain ID Shield Service Co.

According to the New Westminster Record, Elections BC has sent a letter to the company requesting they shut it down and identify the client.

Crosty, who registered under the domain name www.crosty.ca told The Tyee he has no idea who might have created the other site.

"This was a very startling page for me because the people that are there are not hugely dislikeable people," he said, noting that he believes they are decent politicians, although Campbell and Vander Zalm may have ended their terms in "not such a great light."

Crosty says on the political spectrum, he sits "smack in the middle" between the Liberals and the NDP, which have held the New Westminster riding since 2005.

"I have trouble putting two-and-two together on this," said Crosty. "It's things like this that discourage people from getting into politics."

Colleen Kimmett reports for The Tyee.