Continued from this thread: [url=http://www.rabble.ca/babble/canadian-politics/mp-dawn-black-ready-jump-b... Dawn Black Ready to Jump to Provincial Politics?[/url]
The first potential contender for Dawn Black's soon-to-be-vacant federal seat has stepped forward.
[url=http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/4138217... News: Coquitlam Councillor Barry Lynch to seek federal NDP nomination[/url]
A Coquitlam civic politician wants to make the leap into the federal arena.
Coun. Barrie Lynch told The Tri-City News this week he'll run for the NDP nomination to replace Dawn Black, the New Westminster-Coquitlam MP who's stepping down to run provincially in May. The NDP defence critic said she'll quit her job on or before the provincial writ is dropped on April 14.
"It wasn't something that I anticipated to do this early," Lynch said. "The federal level is something I have thought about. With Dawn resigning, and with people supporting me and encouraging me to run, I have given it some serious consideration."
"I am interested," he said.
Lynch said he planned to complete his third term in municipal politics before running for a senior government seat and he has even considered putting his name forward for the provincial race.
Should Lynch win the NDP nomination, which may be decided in June for a possible federal by-election in the fall, he said he will forfeit his $13,000 surplus he raised during the civic campaign last November for the municipal by-election.
Asked about a possible challenge with Elizabeth May, the federal Green Party leader who is thinking about running in New West-Coquitlam, Lynch called her bid "opportunistic," adding, "She doesn't even live out here."
A six-year NDP member, Lynch has been a Coquitlam resident for 33 years, though not in the New West-Coquitlam riding. A paramedic, he has a bachelor's degree from Simon Fraser University and a Master's degree in leadership from Royal Roads University.
First elected to Coquitlam city council in 2002, Lynch was the second-highest scoring candidate in last November's civic election, earning 9,238 votes.