With two days left before residents head to the polls to choose a new school board representative, candidates Dee Beattie and Mary Lalji are out pounding the pavement in the final hours of their respective campaigns.
“It’s been an exciting couple of weeks. It’s been an exciting election, and I probably didn’t expect this much when I went into it, but I’ve certainly learned a lot and met a lot of great people, and I can only hope that after Saturday it carries on,” Beattie told the Record Wednesday morning.
Lalji, meanwhile, said feedback has been positive throughout her campaign. She even ran out of lawn signs two weeks ago because of the demand from the people she met on the doorsteps, she told the Record, laughing.
“I’ve met hundreds of people through the community events, through door knocking, or as my kids call it, ‘Mommy’s walkabout,’” she said.
Earlier this week, Lalji came under fire on Twitter after she posted a photo of herself and Education Minister Mike Bernier at a B.C. Liberal fundraiser – an event her husband, Farhan, was MCing, and she was attending as his guest.
“The minister of education was in attendance, and given that I am running for school board trustee, I wanted to take that opportunity to meet with him and develop a connection so that down the road, it would benefit our students of New Westminster,” Lalji said.
Lalji said she is not a Liberal party member and is adamant she is running in the byelection as an independent candidate and is not accepting donations from anyone, choosing, rather, to fund her campaign out of her own pocket.
“(Social) media gives people a carte blanche to say whatever they want, that’s fine. Once people get to know me and have seen my past work, whether it’s through the volunteering in the school system or in our city, they know and understand, and if they don’t ask questions, they’ll never know,” she added.
Residents can vote at one of six locations across the city on Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Here’s what you need to know to vote:
When:
Polls are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where:
- Queen Elizabeth Elementary School, 921 Salter St. (Queensborough)
- Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary School, 1714 Eighth Ave.
- Lord Kelvin Elementary School, 1010 Hamilton St.
- Ecole Qayqayt Elementary, 85 Merivale St.
- Glenbrook Middle School, 701 Park Cres.
- Richard McBride Elementary School, 331 Richmond St.
*All polling stations are inside the school gyms.
Who:
New Westminster residents 18 years or older are eligible. You must be a Canadian citizen; have been a resident of B.C. for six months prior to June 11 and a New Westminster resident for 30 days before voting day. People who own property in New Westare also eligible.
What to bring:
Two pieces of ID to prove identity and residence. Acceptable ID includes:
B.C. drivers licence
B.C. ID card
B.C. care card
B.C. services card
Social insurance card
Canadian citizenship card
Utility bill (phone, hydro, gas, cable, etc.)
Property tax notice
Credit or debit card
ICBC insurance documents
Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security Request for Continued Assistance Form (SDES8)
For more info:
