The Fort Langley-Aldergrove NDP nominating meeting Sunday was a far cry from most NDP events held in Langley over the years.
About 130 people were present; 97 were eligible to cast ballots and there was a genuine race for the nomination.
The eventual winner, Shane Dyson, is well-known in both NDP and Langley circles and has even run in the riding before, taking on incumbent Rich Coleman in 2005.
The other candidate was Gail Chaddock-Costello, the current president of Langley Teachers Association, who ran against Coleman in 2009.
The fact that there was a competition for the nomination, for the first time in the memory of NDP executive members, boosted party membership in the riding substantially. This ties in with efforts that party leader Adrian Dix has made to raise awareness that seats in the Fraser Valley can be won by the party if it is willing to put the money and effort into doing so.
Dix spoke to the meeting and again emphasized the winnability of seats in the Fraser Valley. While the NDP has frequently won seats north of the Fraser River, its efforts south of the Fraser and east of Surrey have been for naught — until the byelection win in Chilliwack-Hope this spring. Dix is hoping to build on that momentum in the general election in May.
Dyson is very familiar with local issues and spoke to a number of them in his speech — specifically a light rail system south of the Fraser; transportation planning; improving the ability of farmers to make a living and market their products.
Chaddock-Costello also referred to a number of local issues, notably the underground wiring project in Fort Langley and the need to preserve forested lands in Glen Valley. In that case, she said the province should make funds available to preserve the forest that the Township is planning to sell.
I spoke with a number of party members at the event and was impressed by their enthusiasm. They know that taking on Coleman in a general election is a formidable task, but are more enthused about doing so than ever.
There is no doubt that the NDP tide is rising in B.C. Polls show that the party is likely to form government. While the BC Liberals are almost certain to rise in the polls by election day, Premier Christy Clark will have a tough time holding on to power.
Dix has been helped by his refusal to go negative. This strikes a chord with a lot of voters who are tired of intense partisanship and personal politics.
I believe this is one factor in the NDP’s high standing with female voters. Clark is having a tough time connecting with a lot of women.
While the Liberals have to be the favourites in the two Langley ridings, and particularly in Fort Langley-Aldergrove, the NDP will be putting up a much more polished campaign.