Ladner's Slater acclaimed as NDP's choice
You can add Ladner's Nic Slater to the ballot when the next provincial election is held.
Last night (Aug. 11) he was acclaimed as the NDP's candidate in the Delta South riding.
Slater, who also ran for the NDP in last May's federal election, said the party is well organized locally, building on much of the momentum from the federal vote results.
"We're probably in the best position in this riding that we've been in for the past 30 to 40 years," said Slater who placed a distant second to federal Conservative Kerry-Lynn Findlay with 11,189 votes (23.3 per cent).
Findlay won the support of 26,059 voters (54.2 per cent), while Liberal candidate Alan Beesley was far behind in third spot with 8,112 votes (16.9 per cent).
Slater said the federal NDP's rise to become the official opposition helped draw a good number of young party supporters as well as experienced campaigners who are ready to turn their attention to provincial politics and boost the NDP's fortunes in Delta South, a riding he considers winnable.
"Absolutely," Slater said, adding the last provincial election saw independent candidate Vicki Huntington edge out Liberal candidate Wally Oppal following a recount.
Throw in the emergence of the B.C. Conservative Party—led by former Delta-Richmond East MP John Cummins—and the potential is there to fragment the vote for the right side of the political spectrum.
So far, former Delta school trustee Kelly Guichon is the only person to publicly express interest in attaining the provincial Liberal nomination locally.
While the next provincial election is not scheduled to be held until May 14, 2013, Slater thinks Premier Christy Clark will have British Columbians head to the polls earlier, possibly before the end of 2011.
"The knives seem to be out for her in her party," he said, adding a potential win at the polls could sure up support for her.
In the meantime, Slater said he will be working hard to increase the level of support in the riding and looks forward to a campaign.
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