Image: Conservative Party of B.C. / A B.C. native who has been intermittently involved as a consultant with a Chilliwack First Nations and other First Nations bands over the past 25 years has stepped forward to run as the Conservative Party of B.C. candidate for the Chilliwack-Cultus Lake riding in this year's provincial election. According to a news release from the Conservative Party of B.C., Michael Geoghegan is a father of two adult children who has worked in public service for much of his life. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Conservative Party of B.C.

Govt. relations consultant to run as Conservative Party candidate in Chilliwack-Cultus Lake riding

Feb 14, 2024 | 12:05 PM

CHILLIWACK — A B.C. native who has been intermittently involved as a consultant with a Chilliwack-area First Nations band and other First Nations bands over the past 25 years has stepped forward to run as the Conservative Party of B.C. candidate in the Chilliwack-Cultus Lake riding in this year’s provincial election.

According to a news release from the Conservative Party of B.C., Michael Geoghegan is a father of two adult children who has worked in public service for much of his life. He says he fostered a deeper connection with Chilliwack by working intermittently as a consultant with the Sto:lo Nation.

His platform states that as the father of two adult children, he understands the economic challenges facing young people and hopes to address them by advocating for policies that alleviate burdensome taxes, such as the provincial carbon tax.

Geoghegan spent his formative years in the British Columbia interior, growing up in communities like Princeton, Keremeos, Penticton, and Kelowna. After graduating from high school, he attended Okanagan College in Kelowna and later pursued a B.A. in Economics from the University of Victoria.

Following his academic stints, Geoghegan pursued a career in public service, starting at the B.C. legislature as a research officer. He then served for almost five years as a ministerial assistant, including chief of staff, to cabinet minister Bill Barlee, managing portfolios such as agriculture, fisheries and food, and later, small business, tourism, and culture.

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After his tenure in politics, Michael worked as a government relations consultant, where he achieved several notable accomplishments. These include implementing an apprenticeship training tax credit, facilitating a significant settlement for the Okanagan Indian Band, increasing funding and operating hours for public MRIs in B.C., and aiding Seaspan in securing a contract vital to the west coast shipbuilding industry.

While living in Victoria, Geoghegan became a familiar voice on CFAX radio and CTV News as a weekly guest. In 2018, he ran for mayor of Victoria, earning the endorsement of Grammy award-winning musician David Foster and finishing third out of five candidates, the highest for an independent candidate. Seeking a community aligned more with his conservative stance, he relocated to Chilliwack where he has since been dedicated to the area’s development.