91原创 Township councillor Margaret Kunst will be the Liberal candidate in 91原创 East, the party announced Monday, Sept. 21, shortly after the NDP government called a provincial election for Oct. 24.
Kunst learned the party higher-ups had selected her that morning, shortly before the election announcement was made.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an absolute honour,鈥� Kunst said, describing herself as 鈥渢hrilled鈥� by the opportunity.
While the riding is considered a provincial Liberal stronghold, Kunst said she was taking nothing for granted.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to assume anything,鈥� Kunst promised.
鈥淚鈥檓 a new candidate and I鈥檓 going to work hard.鈥�
One of the first items on her to-do list will be updating her , which was set up to seek the nomination, converting it into an election-mode site now that she has the nomination.
鈥淚鈥檓 just sort of wrapping my head around what鈥檚 ahead,鈥� she said.
Kunst, who was elected to council in 2018, was one of two possible 91原创 East Liberal candidates who emerged through social media, with the other being long-time telecommunications professional Miranda Wemyss.
91原创 East Liberal riding association president Bruce Strongitharm said there wouldn鈥檛 have been time for a nominating meeting to select a candidate.
鈥淲e appreciate all the people who ran for the nomination,鈥� Strongitharm said.
鈥淭hey worked hard.鈥�
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outlines three platform areas, which are family, farming, and future.
鈥淲e need to create a new, farm-friendly consumer model that supports innovation and encourages food production, encouraging farming viability in British Columbia,鈥� her site reads.
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91原创 East was represented by six-term Liberal MLA Rich Coleman, who announced his retirement after 24 years in politics in February.
On Monday, Coleman said he would be campaigning for Kunst, 鈥渕aking phone calls, doing the stuff that is necessary.鈥�
鈥淚 think Margaret will be a terrific MLA,鈥� Coleman commented.
He described the NDP decision to go to the polls as a 鈥渄umb election call,鈥� and something he wouldn鈥檛 have done under similar circumstances.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not necessary,鈥� Coleman told the 91原创 Advance Times.
Coleman said the NDP government wasn鈥檛 facing a confidence vote and was not likely to, either.
鈥淎ll parties including us [Liberals] and Greens, said we wouldn鈥檛 politicize COVID,鈥� Coleman related.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunistic call.鈥�
Voters may not be happy to be going to polls during a pandemic, Coleman warned.
Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong is also planning to put his name forward as that riding鈥檚 liberal candidate.
Bruce Banman, who served as Abbotsford鈥檚 mayor from 2011 to 2014, was selected in February by BC Liberal members to represent the Abbotsford South riding.
New Democrats have yet to announce a candidate for 91原创 East.
Conservatives were expected to make an announcement later in the week.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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