The writ has officially dropped for the 2024 provincial election and politicians are now in full-on campaigning mode.
With less than a week to go before the nomination period deadline, four candidates have entered the running for MLA spots in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
Both BC NDP incumbents, Lisa Beare and Bob D'Eith will be seeking re-election, while Conservative candidates Mike Morden and Lawrence Mok are trying to earn their place in the B.C. legislative assembly.
Below is a brief summary of each of the candidates' background and any prior political experience they might have.
Lisa Beare (Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows):
Beare started her political career as an SD42 school board trustee in Maple Ridge in 2014.
She then entered the 2017 provincial election as the BC NDP candidate for the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows riding and beat out incumbent MLA Doug Bing. She was named the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture that same year.
Beare was re-elected as MLA in 2020 and transitioned to become the Minister of Citizens' Services. She took on the additional role of Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport for a few months after MLA Melanie Mark stepped down.
She currently serves as the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, which is a position she has held since February of this year.
Mike Morden (Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows):
Morden entered politics when he won a seat as a Maple Ridge city councillor in the 2008 municipal election. He then successfully sought re-election to city council in the 2011 election.
Morden ran for mayor of Maple Ridge in the 2014 election, but came in second place just behind Nicole Read. He made another attempt at mayoral candidacy in the 2018 election, and was successful, serving four years as the mayor of Maple Ridge before losing his seat to current mayor Dan Ruimy in 2022.
Bob D'Eith (Maple Ridge East):
Before becoming an MLA, D'Eith ran as an MP candidate in the 2015 Canadian federal election, where he lost to Dan Ruimy.
He then refocused his efforts on provincial politics and successfully earned the position of MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission in the 2017 provincial election.
D'Eith was re-elected as MLA in the 2020 election, and has spent several years serving as the Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film.
Lawrence Mok (Maple Ridge East):
While Mok has no prior political experience, he has been a resident of Maple Ridge for more than 30 years and is in possession of nine degrees from various Canadian and American universities, including degrees in electrical engineering, business administration, and many other areas of study.
He has also worked in several different industries ranging from manufacturing to oil and gas and much more.
All four candidates will be canvassing their respective neighbourhoods ahead of the 2024 provincial election on Oct. 19.
