Former NDP MLA for Cariboo South Charlie Wyse reconfirmed his desire to seek the party’s nomination in the Cariboo Chilcotin riding following the NDP leadership win by Adrian Dix, Sunday.
Dix edged out Mike Farnworth to win the race in Vancouver; Dix earned the support of 9,722 party members in the third round of voting.
Dix, Mike Farnworth, John Horgan and Dana Larsen were the four candidates who remained in the race after both Harry Lali and Nicholas Simons dropped out.
Wyse said he would be, “happy to present our platform” under any of the leaders, although he declined to identify who he supported in the race; he confirmed he was pleased with the party’s choice.
“The decision has been made and I am pleased with various options through the candidates that were presented,” he said.
Cariboo Chilcotin Riding Association vice-president Larry Day supported Dix but he was conciliatory suggesting he would have supported the other candidates had there been a different outcome. Day was not surprised by the tight vote on the third ballot.
“I know there was a lot of support for Mike. He’s been around for a long time and he’s seen as one of the pillar, but so is Adrian Dix.”
Wyse and Day predict the NDP platform under Dix will appeal to voters who would like to see an alternative government to the Liberal party.
The race helped to bolster party membership both locally and province-wide.