The name Blair Wilson is about to become a little better known in Sea to Sky Country, the Sunshine Coast and the North Shore.
Wilson won the federal Liberal nomination on Wednesday, March 31, to represent the Liberals in the riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast in the next federal election, defeating John Moonen and Phil Boname.
Fred Wachli, constituency association president, said the race was very close.
"I think the outcome was the decision of the people, and we will support that decision," Wachli said. "I think we had an excellent, in fact, an ideal campaign. We had three candidates from the riding, three candidates who worked hard. It was well done by all three."
According to a note sent by Moonen to his supporters, Boname dropped off the ballot after the first count. The final result, according to Moonen, was 53 per cent support for Wilson and 47 per cent support for Moonen.
"I won in West Vancouver and Sechelt. We tied in Whistler, but I lost in Squamish and Powell River," Moonen said in an email message to his supporters.
Wilson confirmed the report provided by Moonen.
"It was completely won in the outlying areas," Wilson said the morning after the vote. "It was won in Squamish and Powell River and Sechelt. We were virtually tied in North and West Vancouver."
Wilson credits the organization of the team behind his campaign. He said his team had the passion and the energy to take the victory.
"We engaged and listened and got the young people to get out and vote," he said.
The Wilson victory was followed by a Thursday dinner with Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Wilson's victory gives him a chance to do what Ian McKay and Boname failed to do in the two previous federal elections. McKay and Boname both lost elections to current MP John Reynolds, who is running under the Conservative Party of Canada banner."We have to wait and see just when the election is called," said Wachli of the federal poll that is widely expected to be called within weeks. "In the meantime, Wilson has to get his election campaign in order so he can take on Reynolds and whoever else is running."
The Green Party of Canada constituency association nominated Andrea Goldsmith of Gibsons and the federal New Democratic Party constituency association chose Nicholas Simons.
The Liberal nomination for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast was decided in a traditional vote. However, other Liberal constituency associations were ordered by the Prime Minister to accept unelected candidates.
Former Premier Ujjal Dosanjh and business leader David Emerson were the highest profile candidates to be parachuted into Vancouver-area ridings this week by Martin.
"We had rumours starting about six months ago that there would be a parachute," Wachli said. "We were opposed to that and made our feelings known."
