You know, just when you think life is getting dull, some wacky thing happens that makes you realize you never know what’s around the corner.
The fun news today was the announcement that former Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell came out endorsing Kevin Falcon. Campbell, if you’ll recall, once called Conservatives “barbarians at the gates.” Falcon is widely seen as carrying the Conservative flag into this particular battle.
Tweets and quotes in various news stories ranged from aghast to bemused, as you can see here and here.
He won’t have much company from his former fellow travellers in Vision Vancouver, the party he helped found. I’ve been checking around about who from the civic scene is doing what.
Here’s the body count so far:
- Vision campaigner Greg Wilson is with Christy Clark, as is FD Elements’ Don Millar. Interestingly, people say they have also spotted Daniel Fontaine, former Sam Sullivan chief of staffer and founder of political blog Citycaucus.com, at Clark events. I’ve tried checking with Daniel on whether this is true, but haven’t heard back.
The story is causing some amusement, though, since Fontaine and his blog partner, Mike Klassen, spent part of last year blasting Vision for giving contracts to FD and making various allegations about the level of work provided for the level of pay.
- Brad Zubyk, who also helped Vision get elected in 2008, is with Christy Clark.
- The mayor is staying out of the race, saying he’s not endorsing anyone. So is Non-Partisan Association councillor Suzanne Anton.
- Marcella Munro, one-time board member for Vision Vancouver and still a part of the inner circle, is working with Mike Farnworth.
- Vision councillor Kerry Jang, who was Adrian Dix’s constituency president at one time is, surprise, supporting Adrian, as is Vision park-board commissioner Raj Hundal, who also lives in that east-central area of Vancouver.
- Geoff Meggs say that he will confirm he supports Adrian (who was one of the tight circle around former premier Glen Clark, along with Meggs) if asked, but he is staying out of it because his wife is the NDP provincial secretary.
That’s all I had the time for. Please pass on any other interesting sightings.
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12 responses so far ↓
1 Bill Smolick // Jan 12, 2011 at 6:49 pm
I always get a chuckle out Little Larry’s antics.
First he resigns because he’s not really a political guy, or some such statement at the time.
Months later he’s appointed a Liberal Senator. Not a political guy Larry? You just took the most egregious of political patronage appointments.
While he was Mayor he battled the Liberal government on any number of specifics, quite vigorously.
Now he’s endorsing a key member of that government?
I think Little Larry has a bit of a stability problem.
2 spartikus // Jan 12, 2011 at 7:23 pm
I’ve been assured time and time again on the internet that Vision take their orders from Moscow. 1950s Moscow. Via a rip in time.
It’s all so very confusing.
3 Living in the West End // Jan 12, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Geoff is really busy Downtown dealing with Tall Towers, Density and the old guy on Granville suing the City on STIR. Vision, Wake Up because people who were asleep are NOW paying attention.
4 Joe Just Joe // Jan 12, 2011 at 9:04 pm
But we want to know who Jim Green is supporting, why won’t someone tell us…
And James Green while we’re at it.
5 Todd // Jan 12, 2011 at 9:22 pm
First off the bat, Larry runs for left-wing COPE. It turns out that COPE’s too left-wing for him so he founds Vision Vancouver comprised mostly of moderate New Democrats.
Larry, at this time, is also touted as a future leader of the BC NDP.
Larry later endorses federal NDP candidate Kennedy Stewart in Vancouver Centre during the 2004 federal election.
During the 2005 provincial election, Larry endorses New Democrat Tim Stephenson against right-winger Mayencourt in Vancouver Burrard.
Larry then moves on and becomes a federal Liberal.
Now Larry appears to have by-passed both federal Liberals Abbott and Clark and supports federal Conservative Falcon in the provincial Liberal leadership race.
Sheesh. At the right-ward rate that Larry is moving he will be endorsing a Christian Heritage Party candidate during the next federal election.
6 darrell Zimmerman // Jan 12, 2011 at 10:40 pm
Congrats to the NDP for the mind-meld job on first Gordon Cambell and now Larry. How else to explain Gordo’s implosion and Larry’s obvious attempt at humour?
7 Tessa // Jan 12, 2011 at 10:57 pm
@Spartikus: Are you suggesting the Doctor is working for the Soviets? Nonsense. He is loyal to Queen and country, don’t you know.
As for what Senators say, call me when that means something. Maybe Larry Campbell can run for leadership of the Liberals himself, rule for two years, then jump ship to join the Conservatives. That still leaves him six months before he has to declare he’s not really that into politics and step down from that, too.
8 Morry // Jan 13, 2011 at 9:23 am
I wonder if Larry is trying to flog one of his OV Condos to Kevin.
9 Wayne // Jan 13, 2011 at 9:30 am
I couldn’t really say which of them I find more repugnant, Falcon or Campbell. I suppose it makes sense one would endorse the other.
Maybe Larry got a free lunch for his efforts.
10 The Fourth Horseman // Jan 13, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Larry is very flexible, and thus must be hailed for his willingness to reach out across all known (and some unknown) political boundaries.
Or, he just wants to follow the power and all that comes with it.
11 spartikus // Jan 13, 2011 at 6:51 pm
He is loyal to Queen and country, don’t you know.
As are we all…
I find the cross-pollination bemusing. It’s almost enough to make one cynical…
12 MB // Jan 19, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Larry was also spotted tickling Carole Taylor behind the knees (she was seated behind him) at some city function years back.
Have a good chuckle, Mr. Senator.
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