Christy Clark's popularity tested against 7 contenders

Premier Christy Clark opened her new campaign headquarters in Kelowna and officially launched her campaign Saturday, as she seeksa seat in the B.C. Legislature.

"Our enemy in this campaign in not the NDP. It's complacency," she told supporters Saturday morning.

With the nomination period closed at 1 p.m. PT Saturday, Elections BC has now posted the list of eight candidates vying for the Westside-Kelowna seat in B.C.'s provincial legislature.

The seat was held by Liberal MLA Ben Stewart, buthe resigned earlier this monthto allow Premier Christy Clark a chance to run again.

As leader of the majoritygoverning party, Clark assumed the role ofpremier in May despite not winning a seatin the general election. Clarkwas defeated by New Democrat David Eby, by 1,063 votes, inthe riding ofVancouver-Point Grey.

B.C.'sNew Democrats put forward Carole Gordon, aKelowna elementary school teacher, as theNDP challenger for the Westside-Kelowna seat. Clark also faces competition from the BC Conservative Party and the B.C. Vision party.

Four candidates are running as independents, includingDayleen Van Ryswyk, who resigned from the B.C. NDPin April afterpublishing controversial commentson a local media blog.

Advance polls for the Westside-Kelowna byelection will be open from July 3 to 6, and general voting day is July 10.