The BC Green Party has its candidate for Coquitlam-Maillardville.

And she's got a unique background to run for provincial office.

article continues below

Today (Friday), Nicola Spurling was announced by Green Leader Andrew Weaver as the party's pick to challenge NDP MLA Selina Robinson and the BC Liberals' Steve Kim.

Spurling, a project manager who lives in the riding, chairs of the Vancouver Pride Society's outreach committee, which travels around the province to support LGBTQ2.

In a news release, Spurling said, "I want to see a British Columbia where everyone's voice is heard, a British Columbia that doesn't discriminate and where everyone has access to the care they need."

She added, "I want a provincial government that is transparent, won't accept corporate donations and will invest in our children. If elected, I will act on behalf of my constituents because the people of Coquitlam-Maillardville deserve to have a representative that truly listens to them."

In the 2013 campaign, the Green candidate, Edward Stanbrough, was absent but still gained 8.71% of the vote — enough to upset the race between Robinson and Kim; the contest resulted in a judicial recount, with Robinson clinching the seat by 41 votes.

In 2009, the Green's Stephen Reid garnered 5% of the ballots, which also caused a wedge between NDP MLA Diane Thorne and BC Liberal contender Dennis Marsden, who lost by 668 votes.

And, in the 2005 election, Green Party candidate Michael Hejazi scored 6.3% of the vote, which squeezed BC Liberal MLA Richard Stewart out of office and ushered Thorne in with 531 more votes.

Earlier this month, the Green Party named Ian Soutar as its candidate for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, a riding held by NDP MLA Jodie Wickens.

The provincial election is May 9.

jcleugh@tricitynews.com