The West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast Federal NDP Riding Association has selected Gibsons lawyer Judith Wilson as the NDP candidate for the next federal election.
Approximately 75 members attended a nomination meeting in Sechelt on Oct. 23, at which Wilson debated challenger, Dana Larsen. Over 200 mailed in votes were tallied.
Wilson has lived in Gibsons for 20 years, during which time she has served on the school board, the B.C. Benefits Appeal Board and Sunshine Coast Community Services. On weekends, she is a soccer mom to her 14-year-old son, Nicholas.
Politics is not new to Wilson, as she has managed high profile campaigns in New Brunswick and on the Sunshine Coast."I am enthusiastic because this is a whole new opportunity with John Reynolds gone from the riding and with the fabulous performance of our federal caucus under Jack Layton's leadership in delivering positive results to Canadians during this minority government," Wilson said. "Paul Martin's Liberals have lost the moral authority to govern. They have shown themselves far more interested in sustaining their corporate cronies than in sustaining the Kyoto Accord or preserving universal public health care. I believe that many voters who have traditionally voted Conservative in the 'Red Tory' tradition will see Stephen Harper's approach as inconsistent with the core values of tolerance and social security which define our Canada."
Peter Julian, NDP member of Parliament for Burnaby - New Westminster gave a rousing address to the meeting and was joined by Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons.
Bill Forst, president of the riding association, pledged to assemble a strong campaign, building on the success of the provincial election and the significant growth of the NDP vote in this riding in the last federal election.
