Three already in running for new riding

The new riding of Cowichan-Malahat-Langford has three federal candidates, after the Liberals’ candidate was acclaimed.

Singer Maria Manna was acclaimed as the Liberal Party candidate on Saturday at Shawnigan Lake School.

Manna, who lives in Langford, is a performing artist, charity fundraiser and franchise owner of 4 Pillars Debt Restructuring.

Manna created the event Vancouver Island’s Got Talent to fund the Maria Manna Bursary at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. “I’ve been raising funds for non-profits and charities for over three decades,” Manna said. “I’m very good at what I do and now I want to take it to the next level to help the people in my riding. I want to be the voice for various organ- izations who need my help at a federal level.”

Manna is the third candidate in the race for the riding.

Running for the Green party is Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi, a former elected chief of the Quatsino First Nation, former director of indigenous affairs at the University of Victoria and current co-owner-operator of Evedar’s Bistro in Langford.

The riding’s NDP candi- date is Alistair MacGregor, who was Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Jean Crowder’s constituency assistant. Crowder is retiring this year.

There will be a race for the Conservative party’s nomination. The date has yet to be announced.

Those contesting the nomination include Jeremy Smyth, a special education teacher and assistant at Duncan Christian School; John Koury, a former North Cowichan councillor; and Martin Barker, a chiropractor and recent Duncan councillor.

The new riding includes parts of the old Nanaimo-Cowichan and Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca ridings.

Michael Prince, a University of Victoria Lansdowne professor of social policy and political commentator, said the riding is likely to once again be a showdown between the NDP and the Conservatives, “barring some incredible national lift” for the Justin Trudeau-led Liberals.

“If we see more of the same, it’s between the NDP and the Conservatives,” Prince said. “My money is on the NDP to hold it.”

In an effort to ensure Trudeaumania doesn’t hit Vancouver Island, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair has been relentlessly touring the Island — he was here last week — and that will likely continue, Prince said.