An Olympic wrestler from Coquitlam wants to tussle in a new ring: politics.
On Thursday, longtime community volunteer Chris Wilson announced he had filed papers on Wednesday with the BC NDP to run for nomination in Coquitlam-Burke Mountain - a riding currently held by BC Liberal MLA Doug Horne.
Wilson joins D.O.A. frontman Joe Keithley and Barrie Lynch, a former Coquitlam city councillor, in the race.
In an interview with The Tri-City News, Wilson said he has been a party member for a month; previously, he was a BC Liberal to support Dennis Marsden's nomination to run as MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville - the constituency Wilson resides in.
A small business owner, Wilson, 44, said he made the decision to run for a provincial seat "because I feel I would have a big influence at that level."
He cited school sites, transportation and protection of the environment as his top three issues in Coquitlam-Burke Mountain.
Asked how he would fare against his challengers, the first-time candidate said, "I don't have the experience that Barrie has but I do have a considerable amount of community activism on things like homelessness, Rotary and KidSport. I'm extremely passionate about making a difference in my community."
Wilson can be contacted via chris4coquitlam.ca or [email protected]. No nomination date has been set for the contest.
Meanwhile, the BC NDP in Port Moody-Coquitlam - a riding held by former PoMo mayor Joe Trasolini - will hold its annual general meeting on Oct. 1.
The gathering will take place at 7:30 p.m. at Moody middle school (3115 St. Johns St.). Members and non-members are welcome; however, only members will have voting privileges. Trasolini is the guest speaker.
