Julian West (politician)

Julian West is a Canadian environmental activist and electoral reform advocate, and was nominated as the New Democratic Party's candidate for Saanich—Gulf Islands in the 40th Canadian federal election. West stepped down as the party's candidate on September 23, 2008, as a result of the controversy over a 1996 allegation that he went skinny-dipping in a public place; however, because he stepped down after the withdrawal deadline, he will still be on the ballot. [http://www.winnipegsun.com/canadavotes/news/2008/09/23/6856886.html] He is currently on leave from an academic teaching position at Vancouver Island University.

Early life and career

Julian West was born in England on January 7, 1964, and moved with his family to British Columbia, Canada in 1968. After living in Port Moody, North Vancouver, Vancouver, and for a time in the United States, he moved to Vancouver Island in 1995 to take up a teaching position at Malaspina University-College (now Vancouver Island University). He currently resides in Saanich.

West earned a B.Sc. in Mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in 1985 and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1990. He has taught mathematics and computer science at universities in Ontario, the United States and France.

Green Party

In 1995, West joined the Green Party of British Columbia and the Green Party of Canada. He ran provincially as a Green in the constituency of Cowichan-Ladysmith in 1996, losing to NDP incumbent Jan Pullinger.West held many high-level positions within the Green Party, notably serving as the chair of the provincial organizing committee, and later as the chair of the federal organizing committee. He was the Green Party's representative on Elections Canada's Advisory Committee of Political Parties from 1997 until 2003.

West was associated with the left-wing progressive element of the Green Party. He left the Green Party of British Columbia after Stuart Parker was ousted as its leader in March, 2000, and left the Green Party of Canada in 2003, citing differences with its new leader Jim Harris.

Electoral reform advocacy

West has been one of the most prominent advocates for proportional representation in Canada. He has served on the board of directors of Fair Vote Canada continuously since it was founded in 2000, and has held similar positions in British Columbia organizations including Fair Voting BC.

In September 2004, West was one of nine British Columbians chosen to address the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform in plenary session. He spoke in favour of the selection of BC-STV as a new voting system for the province. West later campaigned in favour of BC-STV in the 2005 referendum.

NDP candidacies

West joined the New Democratic Party in October 2003. He was an unsuccessful candidate for his party's nomination in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca for the 2004 federal election, and in Cowichan-Ladysmith for the 2005 BC provincial election.

On April 21, 2007, West defeated three other candidates to win the NDP nomination in the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands.

External links

* [http://www.julianwest.ca Julian West Campaign Website]

References