Kenny Chiu has defeated Wendy Yuan to become the Conservative Party candidate for the Steveston-Richmond East riding in the upcoming Federal election.
More than 600 Conservative Party members residing in the Steveston-Richmond East riding attended a secret ballot in person last Sunday, according to the party's Electoral District Association for Steveston-Richmond East.
“I think it was a good turnout,” said Eric Sykes, chair of the nominating committee for the association.
“They(Chiu and Yuan) both worked hard to sign up new members. In the last a month or two our membership grew because these two were getting their supporters to get membership.”
But Sykes didn’t reveal the specific results of the vote.
Chiu, who was nominated as the Conservative candidate in the federal election in 2015, said he is excited to represent the party in the riding again.
“I feel (the result) is within my expectations, because I take the role very seriously…I know Wendy is a great organizer and she is also a formidable competitor,” Chiu told the Richmond News.
Having lost to MP Joe Peschisolido in 2015 by 6.6 per cent of the vote, Chiu said he is “very hopeful” that he will beat the Liberal Party this year.
Chiu has criticized the Liberal government’s financial policies and foreign affairs. In an announcement made in March, Chiu said the way the federal government handled the case of Huawei's former executive Meng had "completely tarnished" Canada’s foreign reputation.
“This time we have a very good chance to convince Canadians in Richmond to vote Conservative,” said Chiu.
Wendy Yuan, who wanted to run as a Liberal in Steveston-Richmond East during the last federal election, submitted her Conservative Party nomination application in that riding in March.
Yuan didn’t respond to the News’ interview request.
