The NDP candidate who almost beat Premier Christy Clark in the Vancouver-Point Grey byelection in May 2011 is seriously considering taking on the premier a second time.
David Eby said Wednesday it is certainly an exciting possibility that he will seek the nomination for the riding, where Clarks margin of victory was 595 votes.
Certainly, its at front of mind and its something that Id love to do, Eby told the Courier. Its just whether or not its going to work out with the timing.
Eby is the executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, a position from which he took a leave of absence when he became the NDPs candidate in the byelection race.
The NDPs riding association hasnt selected a date for a nomination meeting but Eby confirmed the nomination committee contacted him about running again.
Im happy in my job but Ive also got to pay my rent, he said. So if they call a nomination meeting really early, it might be more difficult. But if they hold off for a while, it might be more likely.
Ebys interest in taking another shot at the riding comes one day after Clark told CKNW radio that she plans to seek re-election next spring in the riding.
There was speculation she might seek out a more Liberal-friendly riding. Eby lives in Vancouver-Point Grey while Clark lives in Mount Pleasant.
Various public opinion polls released over the past few months have shown the NDP well ahead of the Liberals going into next springs provincial election.
This time around, the B.C. Conservative Party plans to run a candidate in the riding, which could take votes away from the Liberals.
The party believes it presents an option for people who are tired of the way Liberals do business but really dont want to go back to the dark days of the 90s with the NDP, said party leader John Cummins.
The Conservatives havent chosen a candidate for the Vancouver-Point Grey riding but Cummins said he recognizes the profile the riding will get in the media.
You would like to have high profile candidates in every riding, but it doesnt always work that way, he said, adding that he will leave the selection of a candidate to the partys constituency association. Well just have to wait and see what happens.
Cummins said the partys nomination meetings will begin in September. The party plans to run candidates in all ridings.
In her victory speech on the night of the byelection, Clark said one of the lessons her supporters should learn about the results is not enough people voted.
Just over 15,000 of roughly 40,000 eligible voters cast a ballot for a 38 per cent turnout. The other lesson, she said, was the NDP earned a better result than the previous provincial election.
We cannot count on the New Democrat vote to be split, she said. What we have to count on is that our vote is going to come together. And if people care about good government, open government, family government, government that creates jobs, government that respects your money and treats it the way that you would, then you have to remember that we have to come together.
Clark was crowned leader of the B.C. Liberal Party in February 2011 after narrowly defeating former health minister Kevin Falcon in the party's leadership race. She won despite only having the support of one member of caucus, Burnaby-Lougheed MLA Harry Bloy.
The race was necessary after former premier Gordon Campbell resigned and later gave up his seat in Vancouver-Point Grey so Clark could run in the byelection. Campbell held the riding since 1996.
Clark won the byelection without participating in any candidates debates, preferring to hold a telephone town hall and a forum at a church attended mainly by loyal supporters.
The election is May 2013.
Twitter: @Howellings
