A familiar surname will be put before B.C. Green party members as they choose their candidate to run in the Nanaimo by-election.

One of those seeking a nomination is Michele Ney, a retired teacher and daughter of long-time Nanaimo mayor Frank Ney.

He was most famous around the province for promoting an annual bathtub race from the "Hub City" to Vancouver, and he also served one term in the B.C. legislature as a Social Credit MLA.

Michele Ney's opponent for the Green nomination is Duane Nickull, a renewable energy consultant and a B.C. Conservative candidate in Vancouver–Point Grey in 2013.

The Greens will choose their candidate on December 15.

“I am thrilled that party members in Nanaimo have the opportunity to choose between two capable and passionate contestants who want to serve them as their candidate and MLA,” B.C. Green Leader Andrew Weaver said in a party news release. “We are excited to offer our vision for British Columbia to the voters of Nanaimo and I am looking forward to campaigning with the successful candidate.”

The successful nominee will run against B.C. Liberal Tony Harris, who's also from a well-known Nanaimo family, and New Democrat Sheila Malcolmson, who lives on Gabriola Island.

Malcolmson is the NDP MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith.

The seat has been occupied by New Democrat Leonard Krog, who was elected last month as the mayor of Nanaimo.

The NDP has 41 seats in the legislature and holds power as a result of a confidence and supply agreement with the three Green MLAs.

However, the NDP seat count will drop to 40 on November 30 when MLA and new Nanaimo mayor Leonard Krog resigns from the legislature.

There are 42 B.C. Liberals and one independent—speaker Darryl Plecas.