Margaret Maximenko plans to seek the federal NDP nomination (Photo supplied)
NDP members in the new federal riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay (SOWK) will choose their party’s candidate at a nomination meeting in Grand Forks on Oct. 18.
This date, which was anticipated, was formally announced last week along with dates of “Meet the Candidates” meetings throughout the riding.
There are currently two contenders for the nomination, Richard (Dick) Cannings and Margaret Maximenko.
Party rules allow for others to declare their intention to seek the nomination up to 15 days before the nomination meeting, but Vince Salvo, riding association president, said this is unlikely and that new candidates would need to be vetted at the national level.
An electronic and mail-in ballot will also be available for party members to vote if they can’t make it to the Grand Forks meeting.
The cutoff to become a member and be able to vote in the nomination is Sept. 18, 2014.
Meanwhile, the SOWK NDP riding association is organizing Meet the Candidate events between Sept. 23 and 30. Those meetings are in Oliver, Penticton, Grand Forks, Appledale, Nakusp, Trail and Castlegar.
There is no meeting in Osoyoos, but the Oliver meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Elks Hall.
Federal Conservatives and Liberals have already nominated their candidates, Marshall Neufeld and Connie Denesiuk, respectively.
The new riding of SOWK roughly overlaps the existing federal riding of B.C. Southern Interior, which is represented by MP Alex Atamanenko. Atamanenko announced last year that he will not seek another term.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Richard Cannings
