Voters in Port Coquitlam will notice the title of an elector organization next to the names of two candidates on their civic election ballots Saturday.
Council candidate Eric Hirvonen and mayoral candidate William Issa will both be listed as part of the Canadian Fire Safety Corporation, a company started by Hirvonen. Council candidate Darin Nielsen was initially a part of the elector organization but removed himself shortly after filing his nomination papers.
"It is not really a political group," said Susan Rauh, the chief election officer in Port Coquitlam. "Obviously, they have candidates but it is an actual company that Eric Hirvonen has and he has signed a declaration saying it is an elector organization."
In order to be eligible, an elector organization must have at least 50 members and have been in existence for longer than 60 days immediately before the declaration.
One of the benefits of being involved with an organization is that it offers up fundraising and membership support, Rauh said.
Candidates involved with the Canadian Fire Safety Corporation will also have to file their individual election financial statements along with those of the organization.
Issa has told The Tri-City News that the Canadian Fire Safety Corporation is not a slate. He said the organization offered its endorsement of his candidacy and he accepted it at the beginning of the campaign.
A call to Eric Hirvonen yesterday was not returned by deadline.
