Alistair MacGregor has been Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Jean CrowderB次元官网网址檚 right hand in Duncan for the past eight years.

She has been his boss, his mentor and his inspiration as he took the lead role helping local residents whenever she was serving in Ottawa.

Now he will take her torch.

CrowderB次元官网网址檚 35-year-old constituency assistant was selected to be the NDP candidate for the new Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding Sunday, outlasting five others to claim the role in a vote that occurred simultaneously in Duncan and Langford.

He feels working with Crowder has him well-prepared for the job.

B次元官网网址淗er best words of advice were B次元官网网址榬emember who you represent.B次元官网网址� I am taking that to heart,B次元官网网址� he said during an interview Monday in Duncan. B次元官网网址淚 know everything an MP does. I learned from the best.B次元官网网址�

Like Crowder, MacGregor was raised an army brat. Like Crowder, he is from Cowichan, calling the Duncan area home for the past 24 years. Like Crowder, he feels it is job one to be there working for every resident of the community.

B次元官网网址淭here were days I would come out of that (constituency) office absolutely wrecked because the government didnB次元官网网址檛 seem to care,B次元官网网址� he said.

MacGregor has a degree from the University of Victoria in political science and a masters from Royal Roads in professional communication. His political ambitions awoke early.

B次元官网网址淚t started day one from working in the MP office. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when I caught the bug.B次元官网网址�

His candidacy is the first confirmed for a new riding, merging those parts of Nanaimo-Cowichan south of Ladysmith with the north end of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca.

When the riding split was announced, he had originally thought he would pursue a seat in whatever seat the well-respected Crowder decided not to pursue.

But when she ultimately decided to retire at the end of this term after being elected four times to Parliament Hill, he figured the riding that included his hometown would be the best choice.

While Duncan and south-Nanaimo are thought of as traditional NDP strongholds, Langford has more of a free enterprise identity. According to MacGregor, a breakdown that applied votes cast in the most recent election to the new configuration saw the NDP winning the new riding by just 253 votes.

Confident of his presence in the Duncan area, he realizes heB次元官网网址檚 got some work to do in the Langford end.

However, Langford is home to lots of young working families. As father to twins and husband to a working mother, he thinks forging a connection should come naturally.

A national daycare plan is high on his priority list, as is a national housing strategy. He wants to build a plan that can help the country effectively make a slow transition from an oil-based economy. And he said economic strength and stability is paramount.

B次元官网网址淚f people and families donB次元官网网址檛 have economic security, the other issues donB次元官网网址檛 matter.B次元官网网址�

He said a lot of younger people share the values of the NDP but are not necessarily active for the party at the ballot box. Part of his mission is making them understand their vote can make a difference.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 really think the NDP needs to change its values. I want to change the nature of the conversation,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 want to ask people if they are really happy with itty-bitty tax cuts that really donB次元官网网址檛 benefit you.B次元官网网址�

He credits his selection to 11 months of direct contact with the voters, where he demonstrated his work ethic and his level of care. ItB次元官网网址檚 a philosophy he plans to bring to a wider stage as we approach a federal election scheduled to be held on or before Oct. 19.

B次元官网网址淏eing elected, youB次元官网网址檝e got to earn it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎ctions speak louder than words. They always will.B次元官网网址�

The Green Party is expected to elect a candidate for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford on Friday. Selection dates for the Liberals and the Conservatives have yet to be announced.