VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Vancouver city councillor Geoff Meggs wants to be an NDP candidate in the next provincial election. He has filed papers to run in Vancouver-Fairview.

Meggs says people have been encouraging him to make the move. “A lot of people in Fairview and members of the NDP have been urging me to run. It’s something I thought long and hard about. I’m quite excited by the prospect, but it’s a long way ahead before we know what the outcome is.”

The nomination meeting for that riding isn’t until October.  The nomination already has a high-profile NDP candidate in George Heyman, a former president of the BCGEU.

But Meggs believes his close ties to the neighbourhood bode well for his chances.

“Well, I spent most of my life in that riding. My kids went to school there. We lived in the riding almost continuously for 30 years. I know the issues of that riding really well, like the need for more rapid transit, and a wider range of housing.”

Meggs says he won’t step down as councillor unless he’s elected as MLA.  The riding is currently held by Liberal cabinet minister Margaret MacDiarmid.

Meggs is no stranger to the provincial political arena. He was communications director for the premier’s office under Glen Clark.

Just last weekend, the Vancouver Park Board’s Constance Barnes announced she too wants to run for the NDP in the neighbouring riding of Vancouver-False Creek.