Independents often face a tough road to get elected. Unless, you're Eddie Joyce

Independent candidates are often election longshots, as they seekseats in the House of Assembly without the financial or logistical boost from being part of a larger political party.

But of the nine such outliersinthe 2019 election, there are two who arebetting big on their personal brands, and doing so with no shortage ofconfidence.

"People know my track record. People know I've been around.Peopleknow that Ifight for it," said Eddie Joyce, who first represented the Humber-Bay of Islands district for the Liberal Party briefly in 1989, and then again from 1999 until2018, when the Liberals kicked him outover allegations of bullying and harrassment. He was later cleared of those allegations.

"I'm feeling very good,very positive about things," saidPaul Lane, who is seeking re-election as anIndependent for Mount Pearl-Southlands. He was booted from the Liberal caucus in 2016 after voting against the party'sbudget, and has previously been a Progressive Conservative representing the same district.

• Eddie Joyce removed from Liberal caucus following complaints of harassment, bullying

• Breakup by email: Paul Lane kicked out of Liberal caucus

People over party

This election does marktechnically new territory for the two veterans Lane and Joyce, as each mounts their first solo campaign.But neither politician says knocking on doors these daysfeels any different.

"The only difference for me, this election, is the colour of the sign," said Joyce. (Hissigns? Purple, his mother's favourite colour.)

"Ihaven't had any challenges,to be 100 per cent honest.My campaign is being run the same way as my previous twoprovincial campaigns," said Lane.

The other seven Independents don't enjoy the extra name recognition that comes with incumbency or controversy,but that hasn't deterred them from their decisions to go it alone.

"It's very simple. Ireally went to help the people ofExploits. Ilove this district," said Gloria Cooper, who is running as an Independent forExploits.

Cooper, a former mayor of Botwood, music teacher and guidance counselor, said she's always voted for people over parties, andfelt her first foray into provincial politics should reflect that.

"As Ido not align with any particular party more than another, Ibelieved it was best if Ioffered myself as an individual candidate."

Differences, and disadvantages

But one political watcher saiddespite Lane and Joyce's assurances,there are major differencesand mostly, disadvantagesto being an independent candidate.

"From an electoral standpoint, pretty much all the evidence we have suggests that you're worse off, and it's a harder go," said Kelly Blidook, an associate professor of political science at Memorial University.

That includes not only logistical challenges, such as not being able to dip into party campaign coffers, Blidook said, or not being allowed to fundraise prior to declaring your candidacy.

There's also what he describes as a hesitancy among voters to deviate away from the political norm.

Ithink that it's more of a popularity contest, certainly, than a policy contest.- Kelly Blidook

"Idefinitely see a lot of people expressing that they think political parties are a problem.At the same time, Idon't think there's a large cross section of the population that's willing to vote for independent candidates, unless they are really, really deeply convinced that somehowthe independentcandidate is the better option, and that's hard to do," he said.

Cooper said she's definitely bumped up against that.

"I've had to do some explaining, that Ican still fulfilthe role, of course,of an MHA without being a member of a party," she said.

"For many people, that's a very big concern."

Popularity contest

Despite those downsides, Blidook called Joyce and Lane "relatively strong candidates," in their bids to go it alone.

"I've had more people coming forward wanting to volunteer this time than Iquite frankly had when Iwas with either of the parties," said Lane, who has previously said he was courted as a candidate by the PCs, Liberals, and NDP.

Lane'spopularity pales in comparison to Joyce: front lawns in the Bay of Islands are as purple with Joyce signs as they are with crocuses, and heboasted to CBChis next three weekends are chock-full of invites to constituent birthday parties and similar events.

Even the Liberal Humber-Bay of Islands District Association resigned en masse in support of him.With his long-time team behind him, Joyce said he is in full meet-and-greet mode.

"We don't make any promises, no commitments," he said.

In a time of soaring economic anxiety in Newfoundland and Labrador, it may seem counterintuitive for a candidate to run on little more than a willingness to attend anniversary parties. But Blidook said getting personal isreally the only option for Independents,who have little ability to influence what happens in the House of Assembly.

"Ithink that it's more of a popularity contest, certainly, than a policy contest," he said.

"At the end of the day, neither of these people can promise a platform that they'll put into place if they're elected, becausethey're not part of a party that will do that."

Short lifespan?

While now both fiercely Independent, both Lane and Joyce are still using their prior political experiencethe majority of which was as a party member on the campaign trail.

"Iwill put my record of success, in terms of helping people,up against any MHA, and Idon't care what party they're with," said Lane.

Joyce toutedhis continued pressure, while sitting as a Liberal, to get a radiation unit in the plans for the new Corner Brook hospital. That pressure, he said, yielded success. The hospital itself, however, is still more myth than mortar in Corner Brook, with no construction yet started on the building which has been promised by politicians since 2007.

• Here I am by Corner Brook's brand-new hospital. Oh, wait

Joyce's and Lane's opponentswill most likely focus on policy and issues as their election strategies, said Blidook, adding it's "a little bit of an uphill climb" against the Lane and Joyce name recognition.

But popularity can,and does, wane.

"It's really rare," said Blidook, for Independents to enjoy lengthy careers.

"The examples are so few and far between, you really can't look and say, being an Independentis a path to a long and successful political career," he said.

• Check out all of CBC NL's 2019 election coverage here

Blidookpointed to John Nunziata, a federal Liberal MP who, after being booted from caucus successfully returned to the House of Commons for one term in 1997 as one of the few examples of Independent success. Returning as an Independent is rarer stillNunziatalost his seat in 2000.

But anything can happen in an election,and Cooper is keeping a positive outlook as she hears a common thread amongher potential Exploits constituents that they're frustrated with the status quo, and open to options.

"Iget the sense that people are ready for a change," she said.

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