Diana Dilworth may have taken a leave from her two jobs to run for public office, but the 43-year-old is keeping busy stumping for votes in Port Moody, Coquitlam and New Westminster in the lead-up to the Nov. 9 federal byelection.

In her campaign office on North Road, the noise is deafening as supporters work the phones to encourage voters to send the three-term PoMo councillor and operations manager for Fraser Basin Council to Ottawa.

“I’ve found I’ve got the most personal satisfaction from politics,” said Dilworth, as she counts off the various posts she has held over the years — small business owner, government employee, non-profit manager, Crossroads Hospice Society volunteer and president, and politician. For Dilworth, meeting people, talking with them and working on their issues is what motivates her and she hopes her enthusiasm and experience will translate to voter support and propel her to office as a Conservative MP.

“The kids are grown [she has a daughter who’s 20 and a son who’s 23] and I now have the time to get involved in politics on a full-time basis,” she said.

Dilworth first ran for office in 1999 when, as a young mother, she was discouraged by what she felt was a lack of youthful representation at the municipal level. She won a seat on Port Moody city council, where she has since worked on improving park amenities, small business issues and sustainability through the establishment of a sustainability check list for developers.

She took a break from politics to look after her children but leapt back into the fray a few years ago. Now she wants to be in politics full-time and believes the Conservatives uphold the values she believes in.

She said she supports the Conservative government’s tough stand on crime and, if elected, would like to work on issues such as toughening up bail requirements for gangsters. Aiding small business, providing tax relief and helping families stay strong are among her other issues.

Dilworth said she’s proud of the $100 tax credit given to families with children under six and said the recently-passed Home Renovation Tax Credit inspired many people to improve their homes over the summer.

“I’m responding to what people are telling me. What I’ve been hearing on doorsteps, is the economy, people are concerned about jobs, people are concerned about the amount of money they have in their pockets at the end of the day, and crime and safety.

“Certainly gang issues have been raised in Port Moody and property crime [is an issue] in New Westminster.”

If she is elected, Dilworth said she would like to get the riding’s name changed to add Port Moody, where she has lived for 18 years. Former MP Dawn Black, who resigned to run for MLA, did the same but failed to get her private member’s bill passed.

Although the byelection campaign has been relatively quiet, Dilworth doesn’t think voters will stay home on election day. She thinks New Westminster-Coquitlam voters could surprise people by turning out.

If they do, she hopes they’ll put an “x” beside her name.

• Dilworth’s campaign website is www.dianadilworth.ca.

dstrandberg@tricitynews.com