Voters are going to the polls today in the provincial byelection for the riding of Vancouver-Point Grey.
While the voter is faced with a wide selection of also-rans, the race comes down to the two unimpressive front runners, Liberal Christy Clark and David Eby for the NDP.
Christy Clark, the newly minted and unelected premier, is seeking a seat in the house. The problem for Clark is that she needs a full time porter to carry her political baggage. Clark had a previous, less than stellar, political romp serving as Minister of Education, Minister of Children and Family Development and Deputy Premier. During her time in cabinet, Clark was often seen to be arrogant and brash. Most notable, was her repeated confrontations with the province’s teachers. She was also tainted by the Liberal’s scandal involving the sale of BC Rail. Although never charged in the affair, she was the subject of a lot of finger pointing.
After serving only one term, Clark decided not to seek re-election in the 2005. At the time, she claimed she wanted to spend more time with her young son. However, shortly thereafter, she sought the NPA nomination to run as candidate for mayor of Vancouver. It would be easy for one to conclude that the real reason she did not seek re-election was due to the BC Rail cloud hanging over her head.
During the bylection, Clark has failed to attend any all-candidate meetings, opting instead to staging town hall meetings absent of any challengers. She did, however, find time to make several pork project announcements for the Vancouver Point-Grey riding.
David Eby is a left wing ideolog lawyer and executive director of the BC Civil Liberties. He is also involved with the Pivot Legal Society which routinely challenges the police and advocates rights for prostitutes and the legalization of drugs. Eby loves to get in front of a television camera, especially if involves a protest against such things as the Vancouver Olympics.
It has been 30 years, since the government has won a byelection in British Columbia.
While the two main picks fail to inspire, on the eve of the HST referendum, it will be interesting to see if the voters take a liking to Clark.
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