Esquimalt councillor to lead B.C. Greens

The B.C. Green Party has chosen Jane Sterk as its new leader to take on Premier Gordon Campbell and NDP Leader Carole James in the 2009 provincial election.

Sterk beat out four other candidates at the party's Victoria leadership convention on the weekend,including Jack Etkin, Ben West, Damian Kettlewell and Silvaine Zimmermann.

She said she's honoured the party elected her leader and she plans to make the party a competitive political force ahead of the 2009 election.

This is the first leadership race for the party since 2000 when Adriane Carr became the leader.

Sterk is an Esquimalt councillor who sits on the board of the Capital Regional District and teachesat University Canada West.