The date for the selection of the NDP candidate for Cariboo-Prince George has been moved up.
Originally scheduled to be a mail-in ballot with an option for voting at a scheduled Aug. 29 meeting in Prince George, the nomination process has changed so that it wraps up by Aug. 24.
Three nomination meetings will be held throughout the riding: one in Williams Lake on Aug. 22, one in Quesnel on Aug. 23 and one in Prince George on Aug. 24.
Cariboo-Prince George NDP riding association president Peter MacMillan said the federal group made the decision to push forward the date, and the shorter timeline meant there wouldn't be sufficient time to distribute and receive mail-in ballots throughout the riding.
The three candidates in the running to be the party's local nominee are Laura Zimmerman from Williams Lake, former P.G. city councillor Debora Munoz and P.G. businessman Trent Derrick.
Votes will be cast at meetings in Williams Lake on Aug. 22, Quesnel on Aug. 23 and in Prince George on Aug. 24. All ballots will be counted at the Prince George meeting, which will take place at Steelworkers Local 1-424's office at 1777 Third Ave., starting at 7:30 p.m.
The association for the neighbouring NDP riding, Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies, has yet to finalize its nomination meeting date, with potential candidates still under wraps.
Meanwhile, both Liberal candidates have gotten the green light from party headquarters to have their names on the Oct. 19 ballot.
Tracy Calogheros and Matt Shaw will run in Cariboo-Prince George and Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies, respectively.
Originally, both Calogheros and Shaw were both competing to stand for Cariboo-Prince George, but split the difference last week.
The formality of nomination meetings will still take place, with the two occurring back to back this Thursday starting at 7 p.m. in the Bob Harkins branch of the Prince George Public Library (Keith Gordon room).
Area Conservatives are also getting busy. Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies incumbent Bob Zimmer and Cariboo-Prince George candidate Todd Doherty are teaming up for office space downtown. The pair are cutting the ribbon on their 1520 Third Ave. campaign office on Wednesday afternoon. Doors will be open between 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., with the ribbon cutting at 12:15 p.m. Snacks and refreshments will be available.
Two other candidates have stepped forward.
Fort St. John's Todd Keller is running for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies as a Libertarian candidate, while the Christian Heritage Party has Quesnel's Adam De Kroon running in Cariboo-Prince George.
