The B.C. Conservative Party has announced that Christine Clarke will seek the party's nomination in Port Moody-Coquitlam, a potential candidate whose name sounds similar to that of a former Tri-City MLA who's now the premier.
But party leader John Cummins said the Tories are not intending to confuse voters by running a candidate whose name is similar to Christy Clark and that the situation is merely a coincidence.
"I don't think there will be any confusion," he said. "There is a night-and-day difference between Christine Clarke and Christy Clark."
Cummins told The Tri-City News that the similarity may even work to hurt the Conservative candidate, who he touts as a strong fiscal conservative, unlike the BC Liberal premier.
"It certainly doesn't help Christine because her political views are so different," he said. "She is a fiscal conservative. She believes in spending taxpayer dollars wisely."
Clarke has lived in the riding since 2000 after moving to the Tri-Cities from Kelowna, according to a bio released by the party. She said she is running to keep taxes low and to take back health care and education from union bosses.
Professionally, Clarke has worked with CompuCollege, A+ Education and IBM Canada, and has been a volunteer music instructor with the Montessori Elementary School Society.
She is the only person so far seeking the nomination for the Conservative party, which will formally select the candidate at a meeting on Dec. 15.
If there are dirty tricks at play, NDP candidate Joe Trasolini believes voters will see through them.
"I think that the electorate in the Port Moody-Coquitlam riding is very enlightened," he said. "I am sure they know that Christy Clark is the premier and they will probably know that she is different from Christine Clarke."
CHRISTINE CLARKE'S BIO
Christine Clarke is the BC Conservative candidate for Port Moody-Coquitlam. Currently Christine is the Director and Chair of Advocacy for the Canadian Skin Care Alliance, Christine is familiar with how the Health Care system affects British Columbians. In her role at the CPSA, she is a patient representative who communicates patient concerns to government officials. Her experience in this capacity is allowing her to contribute to the creation of a report card regarding the access of care in Canada for skin care patients.
Christine Clarke is a devoted conservative, who believes strongly in smaller government andlower taxes as the path to a healthy economy. She is running because she believes British Columbians deserve a representative in Victoria who will fight to keep taxes low, work to find creative solutions to issues in health care and take backeducation from union bosses, placing itinstead inthe hands of parents and school boards.
Professionally, Christine has a wide range of experience, both as a manger and as an entrepreneur. She specializes in the business side of technology and education, have held positions with CompuCollege, A+ Education and IBM Canada. During her career Christine has proven an effective negotiator, and an analytical, impartial and pro-active decision maker and problem solver; skills that will serve her well as MLA.
As a community member, Christine has also been very active. From a volunteer music instructor at a local Montessori school to the past president of the Okanagan Montessori Elementary School Society, Christine has kept herself involved in the cities she has lived in.
Christine was born in Kelowna. She has lived in Port Moody since 2000, where she and her husband Stephen have raised their three children.
