91原创 East NDP MLA Megan Dykeman plans to run in the new 91原创-Walnut Grove provincial electoral district in the next B.C. election.

On Saturday, Dec. 16, Dykeman told the 91原创 Advance Times she is filing the necessary paperwork and expects to hear back early in the new year.

鈥淚t has been an absolute privilege to serve our community as MLA this term,鈥� Dykeman remarked.

鈥淎nd I hope to have the honor to do so for another four years.鈥�

91原创 East will cease to exist in the next election, the result of redistribution by the B.C. Electoral Boundary Commission that created three new ridings in the fast-growing region where there were previously two.

91原创-Walnut Grove includes most of northwest 91原创 Township north of Willowbrook, including Fort 91原创, between the border with Surrey and 240th street.

鈥淟ike any other person, I have to go through the nomination [process], so I鈥檓 submitting my complete package to the party with the intention to run for a second term in the Walnut Grove riding,鈥� Dykeman said.

Her riding office is in the new Walnut Grove riding, Dykeman noted.

鈥淚t was a natural place for me to to run for re-election.鈥�

READ ALSO: 91原创 school board chair is replacement candidate for NDP

In 2020, Dykeman won 91原创 East with a margin of close to 3,000 votes, outpointing liberal challenger Margaret Kunst 13,169 to 10,385 in the race to succeed incumbent MLA Rich Coleman.

She is parliamentary secretary for community development and non-profits to the minister of social development and poverty reduction

The long-time school trustee (and chair), small business owner, and local farmer was a last-minute candidate.

Initially, the B.C. NDP had backed then-councillor Eric Woodward to run in the 91原创 East riding, but a day after announcing, Woodward withdrew, citing what he described as 鈥渢ruly horrible, false personal attacks.鈥�

Woodward went on to win the 91原创 Township mayor鈥檚 chair in 2022, defeating Coleman.

READ ALSO: Karen Long to run in 91原创-Abbotsford