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Robinson and Reimer to run in neighbouring districts
By Anne Marie Abraham, Contributor
As of late November, two Coquitlam city councillors are aiming for a legislative seat in the provincial election next spring. Both candidates are currently in their second term on council, having run for council at the same time in October of last year.
Councillor Selina Robinson is the NDP candidate looking to run in a seat currently held by fellow NDP incumbent of the Coquitlam-Maillardville electoral district, Diane Thorne. Robinson made the announcement to run for provincial politics in September soon after Thorne announced that she would retire at the end of her term. On November 25, Robinson was acclaimed as the candidate for the 2013 provincial election.
“My job is to convince the people of Coquitlam-Maillardville that I can best represent them and their concerns and their needs in Victoria better than anyone else,” Robinson told The Now.
Councillor Linda Reimer announced recently that she would seek the Liberal nomination in Port Moody-Coquitlam, trusting that her chance of victory in the riding was worthwhile. Her decision was made after being approached last month by the BC Liberal party to put her name forward. She is set to run against NDP MLA, Joe Trasolini, the victor in the riding’s April by-election and former Port Moody mayor.
Reimer told The Tri-City News that she thinks her chances against the incumbent MLA and NDP Critic for Housing, Construction and Business Investment are good.
Instead of explaining what her job entails upon her announcement, Reimer shared her intended goals in the chance that she is elected and is the first of the two to do so. Reimer expressed her concern for the economy, suggesting that the Liberals will help in strengthening and stabilizing the economy. She also claims that she will prioritize education and health care.
Barrie Lynch, a former Coquitlam councillor is also a contender to run for MLA of Coquitlam-Burke Mountain under the NDP. Also seeking to run under for the NDP in the riding against BC Liberal incumbent Douglas Horne are Joe Keithley of punk group DOA, Vincent Wu, a failed Coquitlam City Council candidate, and former Olympic wrestler Chris Wilson.
If either or both Reimer and Robinson win the provincial races in May 2013, Coquitlam residents would be looking at a by-election to fill the vacated council seats. The last by-election occurred in May 2010 and cost around $125, 000. Another by-election is expected to cost Coquitlam taxpayers roughly the same amount.
