It's a tale of two ridings, one battle-hardened with election-ready veterans game for a fight; the other an uneven contest with three political Lilliputians facing a political giant.
But while the scenarios may differ, voters can expect the same clash of ideals and policies that they will see at the national level played out locally.
In the meantime, however, the first days of the campaign since the minority Conservative government fell on a non-confidence motion last week have been all about naming candidates, putting up signs, printing brochures and recruiting volunteers.
The riding of New Westminster-Coquitlam, where voters went to the polls just over a year ago in a byelection, is the most election-ready, with candidates named for four parties and campaign offices established for three.
In fact, Fin Donnelly (NDP) and Diana Dilworth (Conservative) say they have been in election mode since the Nov. 9, 2009 byelection to replace Dawn Black, now an NDP MLA for New Westminster, and campaign spokesperson for Liberal candidate Ken Beck Lee says his campaign is reusing signs and firing up the same voting machine from last time.
Lee has a lot of catching up to do to Donnelly and Dilworth, who topped the polls in the last go around, with Donnelly capturing the seat with 49.6% of the vote and Dilworth following up with 35.8%. Lee came in a distant third with 10.3% of the vote in a riding that stretches from the eastern part of New Westminster to southwest Coquitlam and Port Moody south.
REACHING OUT
"He's more hands-on than most politicians. It's not like he's starting... he's really continuing a process he's been engaging in since he was elected," said Brynn Bourke, Donnelly's campaign manager.
Dilworth said she has been trying to counteract an image she says was inaccurate during the byelection that she was an "invisible candidate" and is driving around in a car with her name on it and putting out sandwich boards that say the Conservative candidate is in your neighbourhood talking to residents. In the last few days, Dilworth said she has done three interviews with the media but prefers talking directly with residents.
Both candidates are using automated phone messages to remind people of the election and social media to let voters know what they are up to. They have offices ready and both are planning official openings this weekend.
Lee's office has just opened, communications manager Mike Milat said, volunteers are being recruited and brochures are being printed. "Because we had the byelection, we're ahead of the other ridings," Milat said.
Meanwhile, Rebecca Helps is running again for the Green Party without a campaign office but with a web page showing people how to volunteer and donate.
UNEVEN CONTEST
Next door, in the riding of Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, the picture is slightly different. As of press time Thursday, there was no official Liberal candidate running against Conservative heavyweight and Heritage Minister James Moore, and the NDP candidate Mark Ireland is a relative newcomer to local politics. The Green Party is running Kevin Kim, who also has a relatively low profile in the area.
Still, Moore's handlers aren't taking anything for granted. Signs started going up for Moore in PoCo and Port Moody last weekend, with Coquitlam on the calendar for this weekend owing to that city's sign regulations. Moore also has a campaign office open and is hosting an open house this weekend.
He expects to be visible at high-profile locations such as local malls, his campaign manager said, where he will be meeting the public and handing out leaflets. Barb Haidn said Moore will occasionally be asked to lend his considerable profile to other Conservative candidates and will be visiting other ridings to shore up support but will also be going door to door in his own riding to make sure the voters know who he is and why he is running again.
The NDP's Ireland expects to run an efficient campaign via his website, where people can contact him to donate or volunteer. Ireland said he has already received support from provincial NDP leadership frontrunner and Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Mike Farnworth. Ireland said he plans to do some main-streeting and door-knocking in Port Coquitlam, where the NDP has traditional support.
As for the Liberal candidate, expect a name to be forthcoming soon, said riding president Ron McKinnon.
The Green Party candidate wasn't available to speak before press time.
NEW WESTMINSTER-COQUITLAM
NDP: Fin Donnelly (incumbent)
Conservative: Diana Dilworth
Liberal: Ken Beck Lee
Green: Rebecca Helps
To get in touch
NDP
A931 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam
604-526-3346
www.findonnelly.ca
Opening: Sunday, 1 to 3 p.m.
Conservative
562B Clarke Rd., Coquitlam
604-525-2003
www.dianadilworth.ca
Official opening Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
(MP James Moore, Sen. Yonah Martin in attendance)
Liberal
945 Lougheed Hwy., Coquitlam
604-277-1134
www.kenlee.liberal.ca
Green Party
778-991-9520
www.nwcgreens.ca
Standing at last election (2009)
NDP - 49.6%
Conservative - 35.8%
Liberal - 10.3%
Green - 4.3%
PORT MOODY-WESTWOOD-POCO
Conservative: James Moore (incumbent)
NDP: Mark Ireland
Liberal: TBA
Green: Kevin Kim
To get in touch
Conservative
2611B St. Johns St., Port Moody
604-461-6222
www.jamesmoore.org
NDP
www.markireland.ca
604-629-8866
Liberal
portmoodywestwoodportcoquitlam.liberal.ca/contact/
Green Party
604-375-7990
greenparty.ca/campaign/59021
Standing at last election (2008)
Conservative 54.6%
NDP 22.3%
Liberal 14.8%
Green 7.6%
Libertarian 0.7%
For more information on ridings, results and what you need to vote, visit the Elections Canada website, www.elections.ca.
