Lawyer Brian Fixter wants to fix “stale” B.C. Liberals

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But the 31-year-old associate with the Borden Ladner Gervais law firm notes that the contest pitting him against former Vancouver mayor and long-time city councillor Sam Sullivan and twice-elected ex–B.C. Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt isn’t about “big versus little”.

“I think it’s more new versus old and fresh versus stale,” Fixter told the Straight in a phone interview.

Vancouver–False Creek is represented in the legislature by former children and family development minister Mary McNeil.

Asked what he has been hearing from people, Fixter said: “It’s been a mix. Some people are still staunch B.C. Liberal supporters. Some people are just not happy with how things are going and are choosing to sit out. There’s a level of apathy, which I think has grown over the past little bit. And that’s what we’re trying to combat. That’s exactly what we’re trying to take over and prevent is people just getting themselves out of the political process and waiting to see what’s going to happen.”

He explained his desire to become an MLA in this way: “It’s time for change, and I think that applies specifically with the B.C. Liberals.…I think the new way forward is with a new voice.…Our whole campaign has rested on the belief that the past isn’t good enough. And we don’t need to be talking about the rhetoric of the [B.C.] NDP sins in the past or the B.C. Liberal sins in the past.”

Sullivan didn’t want to comment on the fortunes of the B.C. Liberal Party. While he began by telling the Straight by phone that “there’s lots of opportunity”, Sullivan went on to say: “I don’t really look at those things. I’m focused on keeping my head down and working and getting nominated and getting elected.”

Mayencourt declined comment.

In a separate B.C. Liberal nomination, party members in Vancouver-Quilchena will choose between former city councillor and mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton and former B.C. Liberal Party president Andrew Wilkinson on Sunday (February 17). This seat is held by former finance minister Colin Hansen.