Port Coquitlam MLA Mike Farnworth may not have won his party's leadership nomination on the weekend but he said he'll work to make sure the NDP wins the next provincial election.
On Sunday, Farnworth came up less than 700 votes short in the NDP leadership battle, losing to Vancouver-Kingsway MLA Adrian Dix. Farnworth said while the loss was disappointing, he has no regrets and learned a great deal about the province during his travels over the three months of the campaign.
"It is disappointing but, hey, that is politics and that is life," he told The Tri-City News Tuesday. "At the end of it, I was feeling very confident. As it turned out, it wasn't to be."
While Farnworth led most general public opinion polls, it is party members that choose the leader. Dix proved to be more popular among the NDP faithful and led the voting in all three ballots during Sunday's convention.
Farnworth is seen as a more moderate voice in the NDP but he said he did not believe the party's pull to the left with Dix at the helm would hurt its chances in an election campaign against the BC Liberals under Premier Christy Clark.
"Elections in this province are always competitive regardless of who leads political parties," he said. "I expect the next one will be no different. We have a positive platform that is very relevant to the people and we can win the next election."
He said Dix is keenly aware of the issues facing the Tri-Cities, including the importance of improved transit and construction of the Evergreen Line.
Farnworth added that while he may not be the new opposition leader, he will continue to represent Port Coquitlam as an MLA and push for the issues important to area residents.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
