The woman leading the NDP in Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows next election took nothing for granted in winning that nomination, and will take nothing for granted in the May 2013 B.C. election, either.
Elizabeth Rosenau narrowly defeated Korleen Carreras Sunday in the meeting in St. Andrews Haney United Church in Maple Ridge.
"It was hotly contested, right to the last minute. We didn't let our guard down for a minute," Rosenau said Monday.
She added that Carerras, who works for the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union, was a strong, well-organized opponent and that the membership kept both candidates on their toes, with few tipping their hand as to how they'd vote and seeming to request candidates to impress them in order to earn their support.
"It was almost like an election. The excitement was incredible," Rosenau said.
She added that the composition of the crowd was also encouraging, with a mix of old and young.
"In the past, it was an aging group of people who'd been there a long time."
Rosenau said 122 people were registered to vote in the nomination, out of a membership of 300.
But she wouldn't give the exact number of who supported her or Carreras because of the attempt to maintain unity in the membership.
"I was told not to tell you."
Rosenau ran for the federal NDP nomination in the last federal election, losing out to Craig Speirs, president of the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows constitutency association.
She added, if her party forms government, she intends to speak up and bring more resources to Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows.
Rosenau will replace Michael Sather, who resigns next year.
Carerras said on Facebook that she was proud of the campaign and that she'll remain active in the party and looks forward "towards a change of government in May 2013."
The Liberals haven't yet selected a candidate for the riding. Terry Becker is the only declared candidate.