The Nelson-Creston Liberal Riding Association says it will have a candidate in the May provincial election, but there’s no word when they’ll announce whose name will be on the ballot.
Association president Debby Zeeben said no date has been set for a nomination meeting and couldn’t speculate when one might occur.
“I think the important thing is the conversation is going on,” she said. “We’ve been talking with a number of individuals who are interested in becoming involved with the process.”
The Nelson-Creston Greens, meanwhile, have already announced their unofficial candidate will be Sjeng Derkx as they look to get a head start on campaign fundraising.
In previous elections, parties typically announced their candidates in the early fall.
In the 2009 provincial election, former premier Gordon Campbell made a campaign stop in Nelson to support Liberal candidate Josh Smienk.
Smienk, who served two decades as a director for the Regional District of Central Kootenay, captured 31 per cent of the vote, finishing about 4,000 tallies behind the NDP’s Michelle Mungall.
The last time a Liberal MLA was elected in Nelson-Creston was 2001. Blair Suffredine served one term before Corky Evans returned to the post for the NDP.