A third candidate has entered the election picture for Kootenay-Columbia.

This weekend, Kimberley resident Brent Bush announced his intention to run as an Independent candidate for Kootenay-Columbia. Bush will square off against NDP candidate Mark Shmigelsky and Conservative David Wilks.

Stephen Harper's Conservative government was toppled on March 25th. Harper announced on Saturday that May 2 - a Monday - will be the date for Canada's fourth election in seven years.

"I'm running as an Independent because our Party based political system is failing to represent the people it claims to serve," Bush said in a press release. "It's all about political games and posturing now. Canadian voters are clearly fed up with what's going on in Ottawa", he added.

Bush is no stranger to political campaigns. He ran previously as the federal NDP candidate for Kootenay-Columbia in 2004 and 2006, placing second each time to Conservative MP Jim Abbott. He is currently a member of Kimberley City Council.

"My campaign has two themes," Bush said. "The first one is political accountability. I want to know why the local Conservative campaign participated in the 'in and out' financing scheme during the 2006 election and why Mr. Abbott's Official Agent failed to appear before a Parliamentary Ethics Committee in 2008.

"The Conservative Party's contempt for Parliamentary institutions runs deep," Bush said.

"I also want to know why Stephen Harper forced every Conservative MP to vote in favour of the HST for B.C. (Bill C-62). How could our Conservative MP vote for the HST without even asking his constituents if they wanted the new tax?

"My second theme is about bringing forward a positive vision for Kootenay-Columbia. My vision is to protect Canada's fresh water resources by re-negotiating the Columbia River Treaty with the United States. Formal notice to re-negotiate can be given on Sept. 16th, 2014. Modernizing the 50 year old Treaty to prepare for climate change and our own fresh water needs is critical", "Extensive consultation and dialogue must be part of the process", he added.

Bush said he is looking forward to talking to the constituents of the Riding about what matters most to them. Above all, as an Independent candidate Brent Bush offers effective representation without the Party politics and games.

"It's time to send an Independent voice to Ottawa to shake things up", Bush said.

Mark Shmigelsky said "the more the merrier," when asked about Bush's entry into the campaign. "I've just got to get out there and do my job."

Bush, Shmigelsky and Wilks will be hitting the trail this week, as the campaign begins in earnest.

Wilks, the Mayor of Sparwood, took the vote to be the Tory candidate at the local nomination convention last Saturday, taking over from retiring MP Jim Abbott.

"Jim's been carrying the riding for just about 19 years now," Wilks said. " He's done an incredible job, and it's time to pass the torch.

"I'm looking forward to being mentored by Jim in the next 32 to 36 days, and carrying the torch, serving the constituents and ensuring they're being taken care of in Ottawa."

As to Wilks' mayoral duties, the acting mayor will take over that seat in Sparwood. The community charter allows that Wilks will nominally remain as Mayor of Sparwood during the federal campaign, but if elected, he would then resign.

There is a lot of traveling to do for the candidates. The riding of Kootenay-Columbia, centred by the inverted U of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers, stretches from just west of Creston to the Alberta border, north more than 100 kilometres above of Revelstoke, and west again to the Arrow Lakes.

Wilks is establishing a central office in Cranbrook, and satellite offices throughout the riding. "We've already started in the last five days, ramping things up, ensuring all the paperwork is done and getting volunteers in place. "

As of Friday's political events, there has been no official announcement of a candidate for the Liberals. In fact, so far, only Wilks for the Conservatives and Mark Shmigelsky of Invermere for the NDP are contesting the local seat. Wilks was interviewed Friday, prior to Bush's announcement. But Wilks and Mark Shmigelsky are no strangers, having served together on the Board of the Regional District of East Kootenay.

"I'm sure it will be cordial," Wilks said of their campaign. "There will be some partisan politics that are played out - that's part of an election - but we've gotten along well in the past and worked well together."

In an earlier interview this week, Shmigelsky had agreed. "Overall I get along with Dave, and I'm sure we'll have some fun on the campaign trail."

Wilks will be running on the planks in the Conservative platform of economic recovery and job creation for all Canadians.

"There were a number of opportunities in the budget that provided good things for all Canadians, unfortunately that no longer applies.

"But we'll stand pat with what the Prime Minister has put forth, which is continued economic recovery - and Canada has led the way (since the economic downturn of 2008)."

Wilks is looking forward into his foray into the federal campaign.

"Politics, and anything you take on should be fun. I love politics, I love serving the public, and trying to get things done for the constituency."

Smigelksy says his campaign message is about "people working for people, and getting out there and representing them."

"Working people are struggling, small business people, seniors on GIS," he said. "Seniors are in poverty, people that have never had a problem before are suffering through this recession," he said. "When Harper has been given billions of dollars to corporations, he's been giving pocket change to those that are in need."