In 2009: Liberal Iain Black won this riding, defeating NDP candidate Shannon Watkins 52-39%. But in the 2012 byelection, NDP candidate and former Port Moody mayor Joe Trasolini defeated Dennis Marsden by nearly 3000 votes, 54-30%.
History & Geography: A riding centred around Port Moody was first created in 1991, and the district’s current formation also includes northern areas of Coquitlam west of Gatensbury, along with the villages of Anmore and Belcarra. It had gone to the Liberals in every election since 1996 before Trasolini, who was heavily wooed by both the Liberals and NDP, took the seat.
Basic Stats:
Population: 52745 (51st)
Size: 81.1 km (51st)
Density: 650.4 people/km (37th)
Candidates
Liberals-Linda Reimer: A Coquitlam councillor in her second term, Reimer has worked in the banking industry, and is a fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers. Reimer has a business and criminology degree from Simon Fraser University, and has sits on a variety of local community boards.
NDP-Joe Trasolini: The critic for housing, Trasolini was the Mayor of Port Moody from 1999-2011. He was wooed by both the Liberals and NDP to run for them in last year’s byelection, ultimately choosing the NDP. While in municipal politics, he served as a Director of Metro Vancouver and on the Translink Mayor’s Council.
Greens-Billie Helps: A property manager, Helps has never run for political office before. She has been a deputy provincial commissioner with the Girl Guides, and calls herself “an active Grandmother”.
Libertarian-Jeff Monds: Monds previously ran for the Libertarian party in federal elections in Delta-Richmond East and Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission. He is one of eight Libertarian candidates this election.
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