Candidates solidified for two Ridge Meadows ridings

The writ has been dropped and a provincial election is now in full swing.

Five candidates will compete in two Ridge Meadows ridings this fall in a razor-thin election. A poll conducted between Sep. 20 and 23 found that the BC Conservative Party (45 per cent) had jumped ahead of the BC NDP (43 per cent) among decided voters. 

Both incumbents — the NDP’s Lisa Beare and Bob D’Eith — are running in their respective ridings of Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge East (formerly Maple Ridge-Mission.) 

They are expected to be joined by one former mayor and a couple of fresh faces. 

Here’s a breakdown of all the candidates running in this month’s provincial election, slated for Oct. 19. 

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows

NDP: Lisa Beare (incumbent) 

Beare was first elected as MLA of Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows in 2017. She has also served as the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. She defeated Cheryl Ashlie of the B.C. Liberal Party in 2020 by more than 6,000 votes. 

Conservatives: Mike Morden

Morden, who served as mayor of Maple Ridge from 2018 to 2022, is returning to the political scene. Morden also spent two terms as a city councillor in Maple Ridge before being elected mayor. He’s owned multiple businesses and served on the local chamber of commerce. 

The BC NDP have won four of the five past elections in this riding. 

Maple Ridge East

NDP: Bob D’Eith (incumbent)

Like Beare, D’Eith was first elected in 2017. He’s previously worked as a lawyer, author and music consultant. He’s also been nominated for a JUNO award twice. He served as the parliamentary secretary for arts and film. He defeated Liberal candidate Chelsa Meadus by more than 5,000 votes in 2020. 

Conservatives: Lawrence Mok

A man with nine degrees, Mok has lived in Maple Ridge for over 30 years. He’s taught businesses courses in Canada, China and Africa, and spent a large portion of his professional career working in manufacturing. He also preaches at multiple local churches.

Green Party: Kylee Williams

Williams started working with the BC Greens in the leadup to the 2020 election, serving as a communications intern. She has a background in non-profit fundraising, and is an advocate for a stronger climate action plan, affordable housing and education and healthcare access, according to her bio. 

Prior to D’Eith’s victories in 2017 and 2020, the Liberals won this riding in four straight elections dating back to 2001.