BC New Democratic Party (NDP) is first out of the gate to nominate its candidate for Powell River-Sunshine Coast in the provincial election next spring.
Incumbent candidate Nicholas Simons launched his re-election campaign Saturday, October 22, after being acclaimed the NDP’s candidate for the riding during what the party described as a “lively” nomination meeting.
A three-term MLA, Simons was first elected in 2005, then re-elected in 2009 and 2013. Powell River-Sunshine Coast NDP riding association president Bill Forst said Simons continues to have a strong base of support within the riding’s electorate.
“We’re pretty confident that he’s as well liked and respected now as he was 12 years ago when he was first elected,” said Forst.
Both the BC Green Party and BC Liberals Party have yet held nomination selection meetings, but are expected to do so soon. Powell River-Sunshine Coast BC Liberal riding association president Robert Cannon-Brown said that after proceeding through the party’s candidate-vetting process, only Mathew Wilson, son of former MLA Gordon Wilson, remains as a potential candidate.
Cannon-Brown said he expects the riding association to acclaim Wilson at its candidate selection meeting on Saturday, November 12, in Davis Bay.
Although the Greens do not have a riding association on the Sunshine Coast, nomination candidate Kim Darwin said the closing date for potential candidates to put their names forward on the Green ticket is Thursday, October 27. She said the party will select a candidate shortly thereafter.
Darwin, who lives on the Lower Coast, has served as party secretary since 2014.
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