NDP leader Adrian Dix will be in town Saturday as local New Democrats pick their candidates for the May provincial election.

Gwen O'Mahony, MLA for Chilliwack-Hope, will be acclaimed for that riding but there will be a decision to be made for Chilliwack.

Vying for the nomination are former Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce executive director Patti MacAhonic and Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) Area A director Dennis Adamson.

Adamson lives in Yale and lost the Chilliwack-Hope nomination to O'Mahony before the 2012 byelection.

While he lives in the Fraser Canyon, the second-term FVRD director did live in Chilliwack for seven years and says in his campaign material "he has already been working hard for you in regional matters."

MacAhonic also doesn't live in the riding and has resided in the Chilliwack River Valley for 22 years. After being widowed, MacAhonic was instrumental in pushing for a bill that protects survivors of workplace fatalities and their families. She then spent 15 years volunteering with the Canadian Injured Workers Alliance after which she was the executive director of the British Columbia Wildlife Federation.

She was hired as executive director of the Chamber on Nov. 1, 2011.

MacAhonic asked the Chamber board for a leave of absence until after the election if she is nominated on Jan. 19.

On Jan. 7, the Chamber issued a press release that said MacAhonic would be asked to tender her resignation if she wins the nomination. Some controversy and confusion came out of this, and a second Chamber release, issued Jan. 9, said the Chamber will fully comply with the Election Act, which requires employers to grant leave during the election period: April 16 to May 14.

Despite her request for a longer leave, MacAhonic said she was given an ultimatum by Chamber board president Kevin Gemmell to resign by 1 p.m. Jan. 9 or the Chamber would issue its release.

On Jan. 10, she offered to resign if she wins the nomination.

"I want to take the high road and thank the board and staff for their professionalism, hard work and dedication during my time with them," MacAhonic said in a press release.

O'Mahony will face off against BC Liberal candidate Laurie Throness, and the winner of the NDP nomination for Chilliwack will be opposed by John Martin.

The BC Conservatives have yet to announce candidates for either riding.

? Dix will be the keynote speaker at the NDP's Jan. 19, 3 p.m. nomination meeting to be held at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre.

phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com