Abbotsford school trustee Preet Rai wins BC NDP nomination for Abbotsford West

COMMUNITY leader and third-term school trustee Preet Rai was acclaimed Saturday as the BC NDP candidate for Abbotsford West.

Rai, a professional accountant, has served with many community organizations including Canuck Place Campaign, Abby Fest, Business in Black dance troupe, the Reach Board and the Abbotsford Youth Commission.
“As a school trustee I’ve seen the damage Christy Clark’s policies have caused for children and their families in our community,” Rai said. “It’s time to fund schools properly and give children the chance to succeed in life. I want to work alongside John Horgan and the BC NDP to make life better for everyone, not just the wealthy.”
“I am very pleased that Preet Rai has chosen to run in Abbotsford West,” said BC NDP Leader John Horgan. “With deep roots in the community and the insights he brings as a school trustee, he will fight hard for his constituency.”
Born in India, Rai emigrated to the United Kingdom where he worked for the Scottish government, then came to Canada in 1995. He and his wife have three children and live in Abbotsford. Rai is the tenth BC NDP candidate nominated this year who has municipal government experience.

(Finance Minister Mike de Jong (B.C. Liberal) is the incumbent MLA in Abbotsford West. He has represented the riding since first being elected in a 1994 by-election.)
He joins:

• Nancy Bepple, candidate for Kamloops-South Thompson, a former Kamloops city councillor
• Sue Powell, candidate for Parksville-Qualicum, who sits on Parksville City Council
• Anne Kang, candidate for Burnaby-Deer Lake, a Burnaby Councillor
• Katrina Chen, candidate for Burnaby-Lougheed, a Burnaby School Trustee
• Gerry Taft, candidate for Columbia River-Revelstoke, Mayor of Invermere
• Randal Macnair, candidate for Kootenay East, former Mayor of Fernie
• Lisa Beare, candidate for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, a Maple Ridge School Trustee
• Tarik Sayeed, candidate for Penticton, a City Councillor there
• Rick Glumac, candidate for Port Moody-Coquitlam, a Port Moody City Councillor.

Nominations