Chris Wilson, the executive director for KidSport Tri-Cities and a former Olympic wrestler, will represent the BC NDP in Coquitlam-Burke Mountain in the May 14 provincial election.
On Sunday, Wilson took the nomination on the third ballot against candidates Joe Keithley, the former frontman for the Vancouver punk band DOA; former Coquitlam city councillor Barrie Lynch; and Vincent Wu, who had previously sought a municipal seat in Coquitlam.
Wilson's win comes after local political heavyweights - including New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly - threw their support behind Wilson last week.
The riding of Coquitlam-Burke Mountain - rated by the BC NDP as a "D," meaning it will be a hard win as it is considered a BC Liberal stronghold - is held by MLA Doug Horne.
On Tuesday, Wilson told The Tri-City News he believes he has a good chance of beating Horne even though has just 10 weeks to campaign. "We are putting together a strong volunteer group and we are looking for a campaign office location right now," he said, adding, "People are ready for a change. This BC Liberal government has disappointed a lot of people."
In response, Horne - who has a photo on his MLA website of him presenting a cheque to Wilson for KidSport, on behalf of the provincial government - said he's standing on his record. He ticked off the groundbreaking of the Evergreen Line construction, the acquisition of a secondary school site on Burke Mountain and the opening of 34 new beds at Eagle Ridge Hospital as some of his accomplishments.
"I believe I will win re-election come May," Horne said from Victoria. "I have worked hard and I'm hoping the people of Coquitlam-Burke Mountain will recognize that."
Meanwhile, on March 23, MLA Mike Farnworth will be acclaimed by the NDP in Port Coquitlam. No Liberal candidates have been announced for his riding or for Coquitlam-Maillardville, a BC Liberal spokesperson said.
