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Marsden acclaimed as BC Liberal candidate

The BC Liberals in Port Moody-Coquitlam have their candidate for this spring's provincial byelection.

The BC Liberals in Port Moody-Coquitlam have their candidate for this spring's provincial byelection.

Last week, the party acclaimed Dennis Marsden, a past Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce president, to run for the MLA seat left vacant last fall by Iain Black, who took a job as CEO of the Vancouver Board of Trade.

Jehnifer Benoit, the party's director of communications, said Marsden was the only contender to file his nomination papers in full by the Feb. 2 deadline. BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark, a former Port Moody MLA, and the riding party members are expected to ratify the acclamation on Feb. 17 in PoMo, at what was supposed to be the candidate selection meeting.

Marsden will face former Port Moody mayor Joe Trasolini, who was acclaimed by NDP leader Adrian Dix, and Christine Clarke of the BC Conservatives in the contest, the date for which has yet to be announced by the premier. The Green Party won't be running a candidate because of financial constraints within the organization, said executive director Rebecca Helps.

Another byelection will also be held this spring to replace outgoing Chilliwack-Hope MLA Barry Penner. In that riding, BC Liberals have acclaimed Laurie Throness, the former chief of staff to ex-Conservative MP Chuck Strahl, while Gwen O'Mahony will run for the NDP and criminology professor John Martin will represent the BC Conservatives.

jwarren@tricitynews.com