Former MP Paul Forseth is backing off from TEAM Burnaby's civic slate to seek the provincial Conservative nomination for New Westminster.
"My political friends in TEAM Burnaby had invited me to run for city council in Burnaby, and I said I would. But since then, I decided to seek the B.C. Conservative Party (nomination) for New Westminster instead," Forseth said.
Forseth, a former New Westminster area MP, wasn't sure if he would have to compete for the spot, as no one else has yet declared that they will contest the nomination.
When asked what shape the B.C. Conservatives are in, Forseth responded by saying you have to start somewhere.
"I think we have a chance to get in some NDP ridings where the Liberals would never have a chance to get in anyway," he said. "We may be able to make some inroads, especially in areas that (were) NDP. The Liberals can't win, and voters can be prepared to go in a different (direction)."
Forseth was first elected in the New Westminster area under the Reform Party banner in the 1993 and 1997 federal elections.
Forseth was a member of the Canadian Alliance when elected in 2000 and was reelected as a Conservative in 2004. He served until January 2006, when he lost to NDP candidate Dawn Black - the same woman he beat in '93 and '97.
eat Forseth ran in Burnaby-New Westminster in the last federal election but lost to NDP incumbent Peter Julian.
Black currently holds the provincial New Westminster riding but recently announced she won't run again. Union activist Judy Darcy will run in her place.
jmoreau@royalcityrecord.com
