The Fraser-Nicola region has its own B.C. Conservative riding association and a potential candidate to represent it.

Michael Beauclair - a 24-year veteran of the forest industry who owns Nikaia Creek Contracting, a log-scaling business in Merritt - declared his intention to run during the first meeting of the Tories' Fraser-Nicola Riding Association.

The inaugural meeting took place in the Cache Creek Community Hall on Saturday afternoon. Beauclair was also elected to the association's board of directors, said Alan Forseth, the B.C. Conservative's regional director.

Also elected to the board are Dan Cummings and Shaun Freeman, both of Savona, Wayne Ferguson of Seton Portage, Patrick Mulldoon of Logan Lake, and Ted Lund and Merritt.

As a candidate nominee, Beauclair wants to get to the heart of the forest industry and fight for its long-term sustainability, including the security of those employed in it, he said.

Beauclair believes the industry needs to return to a system of honest weights and measures. And he would like to see value-based timber sales implemented. He said this would reduce the industry's reliance on sheer volume timber cut.

"Those kinds of things would create real jobs; jobs that could support a family," Beauclair said in a press release.

Beauclair is also a believer in both public and private sector health care and would like to see changes in how public education is delivered, he said.