Fin Donnelly, the NDP MP for New Westminster-Coquitlam, is well known for swimming the Fraser River.
But now, he's dipping his toe into the waters of Port Moody politics.
In a glossy brochure mailed to an unknown number of PoMo residents, Donnelly addresses the leaflet "Dear Neighbour," adding that "we have an important choice to make" in the Nov. 15 civic election.
He goes on to endorse Gaetan Royer for mayor as well as council candidates Rick Glumac and Zoe Royer, and challengers Barbara Junker and Anne Ladouceur.
Donnelly's riding covers only part of Port Moody - bisecting Inlet Centre, it extends west on the south shore of Burrard Inlet - and he does not live in Port Moody. His home is in Coquitlam, where he was also a city councillor from 2002 until he left partway through his third term to run for federal politics in 2009.
"I think it's important to be involved in my community," Donnelly said. "I was involved at the civic level on city council in Coquitlam. Since 2002, I've been engaged in politics at different levels and [city hall is] one of the levels that's closest to the people.
"It's really important to be engaged, so I'm happy to support individuals who are seeking office, progressive individuals who are looking to make the city a better place."
Donnelly said he was asked by a "number of individuals" for endorsement, including the five in Port Moody.
(He and Selina Robinson - also a former Coquitlam councillor who left partway through her second term to run provincially in 2013 - are also backing the Protect Coquitlam slate, which consists of incumbent councillors Neal Nicholson, Chris Wilson and Bonita Zarrillo as well as newcomers Jack Trumley and Shobha Nair.)
The Port Moody brochure encourages residents to "vote for real leadership" that will protect the environment by encouraging transit and reducing traffic, expand PoMo's parks and green space, particularly Rocky Point Park, grow the local economy and preserve the city's character.
It was not clear who paid for the brochure, however, or how many were mailed out.
Gaetan Royer said he was not aware who paid for it and suggested Donnelly would know.
Donnelly said much the same, suggesting that perhaps the candidates knew.
On the brochure's back page, however, there is small type stating it is "authorized by" the candidates' financial agents.
And although the candidates are part of a common brochure that espouses a shared mission, Gaetan Royer stated it's not a slate.
"It's a group of people," he said. "Fin Donnelly decided to endorse a certain number of candidates, and I'm delighted to be one of the ones he's chosen."
He suggested the situation was no different from other candidates receiving endorsements from CUPE Local 825, the union representing PoMo's civic workers, adding he was disappointed not to have received the union's support.
"I don't consider it as an endorsement from a political party," Gaetan Royer said of Donnelly's backing. "It's an endorsement from an individual. He happens to be a member of Parliament but he's also a prominent member of our community."
The brochure is signed by Fin Donnelly and does not include any reference to his role as an MP.
That Donnelly is not a PoMo resident did not concern Gaetan Royer, who noted he has endorsements from a variety of groups and residents of other communities.
A request for information from James Moore, the Conservative MP for Port Moody-Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam, on whether he was endorsing any candidates was not returned by deadline.
