There now appears to be a race to represent the NDP for CoquitlamBurke Mountain in the next provincial election.

Former Coquitlam city councillor and mayoral candidate Barrie Lynch filed his nomination papers Tuesday to be the NDP candidate in the constituency.

As of Wednesday, the nomination papers had yet to be approved by the party.

Lynch joins punk rocker turned political hopeful Joe Keithley from DOA as the two candidates so far interested in the spot.

Lynch touted his experience as a councillor and his residency in Coquitlam for more than 30 years, suggesting it made him a good candidate.

"It's not like you have to come in and start to understand what the issues are," he told The NOW.

"I think most people will respect the fact if you've got some experience at the civic level, it can be transferred over to the provincial level."

Lynch said he decided to put his name forward after being approached by members of the party and giving the idea consideration over part of the summer.

He indicated he has always had an interest in the bigger provincial picture and, having dealt with a number of issues locally - from environment to housing - argued they can be handled more successfully at the provincial level.

Lynch also said he expects there will be interest in the riding and perhaps more candidates, adding he's never met his lone current rival Keithley, and only knows him through what he's read in the paper.

"I think it comes down to who would be the best candidate to represent the NDP in this riding," he said.

Lynch was a three-term councillor before launching a failed bid for Coquitlam mayor in 2011.

He lost to Richard Stewart by more than 2,000 votes in the last civic election.

Keithley ended months of speculation in August after he told The NOW his nomination papers had been approved by the party for the riding.

The Burnaby resident said he chose Coquitlam-Burke Mountain in part because the ridings in his home city were full, but he also has ties to Coquitlam with family living in the area.

Liberal MLA Doug Horne currently holds the riding.

It could be some months before the candidates face a vote.

The Coquitlam-Burke Mountain NDP Constituency Association doesn't have a date set for a nomination meeting.

The president of the association previously stated a meeting isn't expected until late fall or even next year.

jdeutsch@thenownews.com