B.C. Conservative leader Wilf Hanni told the Straight in January this year that his party was positioning itself as an alternative for voters who are unhappy with the B.C. Liberals.

There were even suggestions that Hanni’s party might even hurt the ruling party as it could erode support from voters who don’t go for the New Democrats.

If preliminary results are to be considered, Hanni himself hasn’t become much of a factor in the election in Kootenay East.

With his 683 votes so far, Hanni is running a very distant third from the NDP’s Troy Sebastian who has 2,189 votes.

Incumbent B.C. Liberal MLA Bill Bennett looks poised for another win with 3,343 votes.

Votes in about half or 54 of the 112 ballot boxes in Kootenay East were counted so far as of 9:23 p.m.