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Federal candidates springing up on West Shore for 2015 vote

Former Colwood councillor among latest nominees for candidacy in West Shore's two federal ridings

Shari Lukens is jumping from municipal to federal politics.

The former Colwood councillor, who stepped down in 2014, is seeking the Conservative nomination in the new riding of Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. The one-term councillor vies for the nod against David Busch in the riding formerly known as Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. Current NDP MP Randall Garrison won the seat in 2011.

The Conservatives have typically had a strong presence in the riding, coming in a close second in 2008 and 2011.

Also this week, the Greens announced that photographer Frances Litman has been nominated for the party's candidacy in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke.

In the other federal riding taking in the West Shore, professional entertainer Maria Manna, a Bear Mountain resident, is seeking the Liberal candidacy for the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford.

John Koury, former Keith Martin constituency assistant; and Chemainus resident Jeremy Smyth, a member of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, are confirmed as running for the Conservatives' candidacy in the riding.

No date has been confirmed for the Liberal or Conservative nomination meetings for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford.

Last weekend the Green Party announced that Langford business owner Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi would be its candidate in the riding, while the NDP recently elected Alistair MacGregor, currently constituency assistant for retiring MP Jean Crowder, as its candidate.

– with files from Don Descoteau

alim@goldstreamgazette.com



Arnold Lim

About the Author: Arnold Lim

I'm an award-winning photojournalist, videographer, producer, and director.
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