Local pharmacist Elizabeth Rosenau will run for a seat in the B.C. Legislature in next May's election, hoping to represent the riding of Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows.

Rosenau was chosen at a riding association nomination meeting on Sunday in what she called a "hotly contested" race with Korleen Carreras.

"I'm coming down off a pretty big high," Rosenau said on Monday.

Rosenau said she believes her visibility in the community, her background in health care, and an endorsement from Michael Sather helped her win the race.

As a pharmacist, Rosenau has a perspective on health care that isn't so common with MLAs, she said, and she said she heard "over and over" from older people about their concerns about the health care system.

But her scientific background will also be useful when dealing with policy issues. Rosenau said she sees a "disconnect" in policies that are based on ideology and not evidence.

"Generally my science background... will be something that will be helpful," Rosenau said.

The NDP nomination meeting was "packed," Rosenau said, with standing room only.

"The energy was palpable," she said about the meeting. "People are really looking for good political leadership."

The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows riding was a "close riding" in the 2009 election - Michael Sather beat Ken Stewart by 274 votes - and Rosenau said this time the local riding association wanted to hit the ground running.

A candidate hasn't been chosen yet by the NDP in the Maple RidgeMission riding. Mike Bocking and Bob D'Eith have indicated their intention for the nomination.

mrantanen@mrtimes.com