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Thousands of people have signed up to vote in the Vancouver mayoral-nomination process of the Non-Partisan Association (NPA).

However, they won’t find the name of former Conservative MP Wai Young on the list of prospective candidates.

Young, who previously expressed interest in representing the NPA, did not submit an application for the nomination, according to party president Gregory Baker.

Young may run with a new organization called Coalition Vancouver, but Baker indicated that he is “not too concerned” about a split in the centre and centre-right vote that could arise from such a move.

“Our candidate will be the logical choice, and I have faith in our constituency to support the NPA,” Baker told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview.

Baker said five hopefuls have submitted applications for the nomination: councillor Hector Bremner, park-board commissioner John Coupar, financial analyst Glen Chernen, entrepreneur Ken Sim, and engineer George Steeves.

Baker said all five have to go through interviews by a “green-light committee” in the coming days. They will be assessed based on factors that include integrity and electability.

“It’s basically, you know, a complete package,” Baker said about the criteria to be used by the committee in evaluating the applications for mayor nomination.

The committee will submit a report to the NPA board next week about who it recommends. The final list of contenders will be released afterward; the party’s mayoral nomination is on May 29.

According to Baker, the NPA’s ranks have swelled from only about 100 members last summer to more than 5,000 with the sign-ups this year for the mayoral race.

Young’s camp indicated to the Straight that the former Vancouver South MP is preparing to make a public announcement about her plans for the October 2018 municipal election.