He was wooed by Prime Minister Paul Martin to become the Liberal candidate in the riding of London-Fanshawe, but London firefighter Glen Pearson said yesterday the decision to seek the nomination came only after a heart-to-heart talk with his wife.

Pearson is director of the London food bank and organizer of relief projects in southern Sudan. He and his wife, Jane Roy, realized he can help both causes if he wins a seat in Ottawa, he said.

His work helping to build schools, end slavery and help people in the war-ravaged African nation of Sudan drew the attention of Martin and led to many meetings.

Joe Fontana, the Liberal MP for London-North-Centre who helped open doors for the Sudan relief effort, was also pushing him to seek the nomination, Pearson said.

"I'm just raring to go," Pearson said. He said he expects he'd have to take a leave of absence to campaign once the election is called and consider whether to resign from the fire department later. He has been a firefighter for 28 years.

The Liberal riding association hasn't called a nomination meeting, said president Beth Cormier. Lawyer Steve Ross is the only other candidate to seek the nomination.

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