A former MP won't be running for re-election in his old New Westminster-Coquitlam riding after all.

A spokesperson for the electoral district association said on Friday that Paul Forseth took his name off the ballot this month to run for the Conservatives. Calls to Forseth were not immediately returned.

As a result, four candidates will by vying for the federal nod, which will be held later this month: media consultant Lorraine Brett of New Westminster; Port Moody Coun. Diana Dilworth; Coquitlam's Mark Lea-McKeown, a member of the Burnaby-New West riding executive; and Andy Wickey, a Coquitlam financial services operator.

The New West-Coquitlam seat was vacated in April by former NDP MP Dawn Black, who won the provincial riding of New West in May.

The federal by-election must be called within 180 days after Black's resignation and, once the contest is announced by the prime minister, voters must go to the polls within 36 days (across Canada, there are a total of four by-elections that need to be called and it's likely all four will be staged at the same time).

The local Tory nomination meeting will happen on Saturday, July 25 in the Mike Butler room of the Dogwood Pavilion, located at 624 Poirier St. Party supporters in good standing with the association as of July 2 will be eligible to vote; members will be notified by phone, mail and email.

"We have a strong and diverse field of candidates vying for the nomination in this pivotal riding," riding president Gary Mauser said in a release. "I look forward to winning back the New Westminster-Coquitlam-Port Moody district for the Conservatives.”

One of the four contenders will be up against NDP candidate Fin Donnelly, a Coquitlam city councillor. The local Liberal and Green parties have yet to announce their challengers.

For more information on the Conservative meeting, visit www.yourvotecounts.ca or call candidate nomination committee chairperson Leona Healy at 604-866-2862.

jwarren@tricitynews.com