A second Coquitlam city councillor will vie for a provincial seat in next year's election.
On Monday, Coun. Linda Reimer announced she has accepted the BC Liberal Party's request to run for nomination in Port Moody-Coquitlam, which is currently held by BC NDP MLA Joe Trasolini.
No nomination date has been set yet, a BC Liberal spokesperson said.
Reimer, a two-term city councillor, told The Tri-City News she would have run for nomination even if Coun. Selina Robinson weren't running for the New Democrats in Coquitlam-Maillardville (she was acclaimed as the NDP candidate to replace retiring MLA Diane Thorne).
Reimer said she was asked by the governing party about a month ago to file nomination papers and, after consulting with family, friends and supporters, agreed to throw her hat in the ring late last week.
"There's a lot to weigh because it's a very important decision," she said, adding, "It's a chance to represent my constituents at the provincial level. It's a new experience. It's a growth."
As for her chances of defeating Trasolini, a former Port Moody mayor, Reimer said without hesitation, "I think they're good."
Health care and education will be her top priorities if elected, she said, "and helping the Liberals build a better B.C. The BC Liberals are in a renewal phase and I want to be part of that. I want to see a strong, stable economy and only the BC Liberals can provide that."
Reimer also cited the BC Jobs Plan as an indicator that the province is back on its fiscal track.
A resident in the neighbouring Coquitlam-Burke Mountain riding, Reimer placed third in last November's civic election, with 9,093 votes, after Robinson and Coun. Craig Hodge.
Should Robinson and Reimer win in the provincial races next May, a future civic byelection would cost Coquitlam taxpayers about $125,000.
