Kuo up for NDP nomination

By Dan Hilborn
Published Feb., 2005


Tony Kuo did what was expected and formally filed papers to run for the NDP nomination in Burnaby-Willingdon last week.

But the former federal Liberal hopeful won't be sticking around town to take part in the riding's planned NDP all-candidates' meeting, set for this Saturday afternoon.

In a one-page statement, faxed to the media at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning, Kuo announced he was entering the race, and going on vacation.

"I will have more to say on Feb. 20 at the nomination meeting and on my return of my family holiday from Jan. 28 to Feb. 14," said the statement.

The other three people running for the nomination, David Myles, Tom Sigurdson and Michael Walton, will take part in a debate this Saturday, at 1 p.m., at Moscrop secondary school.

Myles, who ran for the NDP in the riding during the 2001 provincial election, said there is still a chance that Kuo's mass signups of new members may not be enough to win the nomination.

"I don't feel his people are going to be there," said Myles, who has painstakingly called each of the names listed on the riding's new membership list, and discovered many of them claim to have no knowledge about the NDP.

"I'm finding people who don't know what's going on," said Myles, who admitted to feeling "a lot more encouraged" about the process after talking to the new members.

Myles noted that if Kuo's new members fail to show up at the Feb. 20 nominating meeting in large number, his own signup of 300 new members may be enough to win the nomination.

Kuo's press release said his issues during this campaign include "the lack of health care and education, effective voice for the people of Burnaby-Willingdon, minority rights in B.C. politics, and lack of investment in Burnaby-Willingdon for the past four years."

Gerry Eggert, who was listed as the contact person on Kuo's press release, did not return phone calls from the Burnaby NOW by press time.