Two Richmond-Steveston candidates who lost in the Oct. 19 provincial election are making duelling accusations around campaign tactics and post-election harassment.
Jackie Lee, who ran as an unaffiliated candidate after his party, BC United, folded its campaign, claims he’s being bullied online by supporters of his BC Conservative opponent Michelle Mollineaux.
Furthermore, posts on Chinese social media have accused Lee of benefiting the NDP by taking votes away from the Conservatives.
Mollineaux, for her part, said she hasn't engaged in any "wrongdoing" or "cyberbullying," and has "remained quiet amidst the noise."
This type of "bullying" against Lee is "out of line," she added.
"I've never, ever condoned name-calling or threats or cyber-bullying," she said, adding she's also been the target of "horrible" online comments.
Mollineaux filed a complaint with Elections BC about Lee’s campaign practices, for example, complaining he used similar colours as the BC Conservatives and the term “common sense” on his signs, a term oft-used by her party. (Lee claims his signs were designed before Aug. 28 when the BC United campaign folded.)
Mollineaux’s complaint claimed there was “misleading and manipulative activities conducted by candidate Jackie Lee during the election period.”
The complaint includes the aforementioned colour scheme of Lee’s campaign and claims Lee "misrepresented himself as the leading Conservative candidate in Richmond-Steveston, causing confusion about his affiliation” while door knocking.
Elections BC confirmed they received the complaint, but they won’t be opening an investigation as, “upon review, there is no apparent contravention of the Election Act.”
Mollineaux has been notified that there won’t be an investigation, Elections BC told the Richmond News.
Lee accused of 'helping the NDP'
Lee has faced online backlash from people accusing him of “helping the NDP” by swaying the votes, which could have gone to the Conservatives had he not run as an independent candidate.
BC NDP incumbent MLA Kelly Greene won the riding, beating Mollineaux by 484 votes. Theoretically, if Lee’s 2,354 votes had been cast for Mollineaux, she would have won the riding.
Some of the online comments have appeared on Chinese-based media companies such as Little Red Book (xiaohongshu) and Vanpeople. One comment called Lee a “rat,” accusing him of being “selfish” and violating the B.C. Election Act.
An article on Vanpeople suggests Lee ran his campaign for “personal gain,” and that he misled voters by using the BC Conservative colour scheme and omitted his status as an unaffiliated candidate.
One post also features Lee with a newspaper advertisement claiming 52 per cent of the voters in Richmond-Steveston are in his favour.
Posts also accuse Lee of being “sent by the NDP,” leading the Conservatives to lose a seat in his riding.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the supporters from the community. And my personal commitment since day one is not for any personal gain but just to serve our community,” Lee told the News.
Lee lodged a complaint with the Richmond RCMP after some posts seemed to target him, using ugly language.
RCMP, however, said “in the absence of criminal charges as well as for privacy reasons, we are not able to confirm whether there was an investigation.”
“Speaking generally, Richmond RCMP is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its citizens,” said Richmond RCMP media spokesperson Adriana O’Malley. “Richmond RCMP investigate all complaints received and work closely with individuals to ensure their safety and security.”
Lee told the News he is continuing to work with police on his complaint.
- with files from Nyamat Singh
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