A Burnaby city councillor is going to try to win Vancouver-Langara for the B.C. NDP in the May 9, 2017 provincial election.

James Wang is expected to be nominated on March 15 by New Democrats in the Vancouver electoral district.

Wang told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview that he has a deep connection with the community that he hopes to represent in Victoria.

He said that his 82-year-old mother has been a resident since 2000. His family has a local business, a travel agency managed his brother. Wang said that he used to work in that business.

"I know this community very well," Wang said. 

Vancouver-Langara is a B.C. Liberal stronghold.

Wang served as school trustee in Burnaby for two terms, starting in 2008. He was elected to city council in 2014.

The China-born politician is fluent in Mandarin and English. He came to Canada in 1996.

Vancouver-Langara is currently represented by B.C. Liberal MLA Moira Stillwell. She is not seeking another term.

B.C. Liberals are fielding lawyer Michael Lee. The Vancouver-born and –raised candidate is a son of immigrants from Hong Kong.

Former Vancouver school trustee Janet Fraser is running for the B.C. Greens in Vancouver-Langara.

Last year, Wang sought the B.C. NDP nomination in Burnaby North. He lost to Janet Routledge, a retired regional director of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

In the 2013 provincial election, Routledge failed to dislodge incumbent B.C. Liberal MLA Richard Lee, who is now on his fourth term.

According to Wang’s profile on the Burnaby city website, his family has lived in Burnaby for 15 years.

Wang has a master’s degree in business administration. He likes photography, golf, and table tennis.

According to Wang, a number of voters in Vancouver-Langara had asked him to run in the district.