Paul Brar announced Wednesday that he will seek the Conservative nomination in the new riding of Cloverdale-West Langley.
He is the second candidate to announce his interest in winning the nomination. Brar made the announcement before a crowd of about 40 people at the Cloverdale Library.
The riding includes Cloverdale, Langley City and a portion of Surrey extending as far west as 144 Street. Voters there will elect their first MP in the next federal election, which will likely be held in October, 2015.
Most of the Surrey portion of the new riding is now part of the South Surrey-Cloverdale-White Rock riding held by Conservative MP Russ Hiebert. He is expected to run again in the readjusted South Surrey-White Rock riding.
Some party members at the event said they had heard there may be as many of five candidates for the nomination.
Brar came to Canada and to Surrey from India in 1990. He is manager of a Newton banquet hall, which is owned by his brother. He has also been a life insurance salesman. He is the current vice-president of the Newton-North Delta Conservative constituency association, and has been a Conservative member since 2006.
"We need people like Paul Brar to come forward and work in the political arena," said Mohan Gill, president of the constituency association. "He is a good businessman, with a good family background. I'm glad he is contesting this."
"I strongly believe in a deep sense of personal responsibility," Brar said. "We need to keep the streets safe, lower taxes, protect newcomers and strengthen the economy. I need your help to elect me as the candidate in Cloverdale-West Langley."
He quoted an Albert Pine saying that ends "whatever we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."
Dave Hayer, former Surrey-Tynehead Liberal MLA, is the other announced candidate for the nomination.