The BC Greens have named a candidate in the riding Port Coquitlam.
Erik Minty, a computer engineer who has lived in PoCo since 1997, officially announced Friday he will seek to unseat long-time NDP MLA Mike Farnworth in the Oct. 24 provincial election.
“I have deep roots in Port Coquitlam, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to represent my home town in this election,” he said in a statement. “I have served this community in many capacities as a volunteer, while raising a family and building a successful career in the tech sector. I am deeply committed to my community and serving as MLA for Port Coquitlam.”
A youth soccer and hockey coach, Minty has worked in engineering, project management and consulting. He first moved to the area to take a job with a local robotics company.
Minty said one of the reasons he is runnins as a BC Green is because of the party’s stance on combatting climate change.
“At first it was the commitment to fiscal responsibility that drew me in,” he said. “But I quickly discovered the deeply ethical commitment to strong principles like social justice that made me realize that the Green movement... is a future worth fighting for. It’s a future I’m fully committed to.”
With his announcement, Minty joins incumbent Farnworth and BC Liberal candidate Mehran Zargham in contesting the Port Coquitlam riding.