Ex-MLAs say B.C. NDP leadership race pits David Eby versus Mike Farnworth
The B.C. NDP heads for its three-day convention with talk that its 2014 leadership race will be a toss-up between Mike Farnworth and David Eby. That’s the inside buzz that former Fraser-Nicola MLA Harry Lali says he has been hearing.
“Both campaigns are gearing up. That’s the word,” Lali told the Straight in a phone interview in the lead-up to the convention starting on Friday (November 15). He said he doesn’t think that federal NDP MPs will enter the fray.
Farnworth, a fifth-term MLA currently representing Port Coquitlam, placed second to Adrian Dix in the party’s last leadership race in 2011.
According to Lali, there is a push for Eby, the neophyte MLA who unseated B.C. Liberal premier Christy Clark from Vancouver–Point Grey, to go for the party’s top post.
Lali didn’t say where that prodding is coming from, but another former B.C. NDP MLA, Guy Gentner, has some unsolicited advice for Eby.
“If I was Eby, I wouldn’t certainly be courting Moe Sihota,” Gentner told the Straight in a phone interview.
The ex–Delta North representative was referring to the outgoing B.C. NDP president, whom he had previously criticized for being part of a group that he claimed has hurt the party’s fortunes.
According to Gentner, who supported Farnworth the last time around, an endorsement from Sihota would be a “kiss of death”.
Comments
8 Comments
BC Liberals.
Nov 13, 2013 at 1:34pm
Please, please elect Eby.
Arthur Vandelay
Nov 13, 2013 at 2:13pm
Gotta agree with BC Liberals, I doubt the whole smarmy Doogie Howser thing is gonna play well for Eby outside of a few ridings in Metro Vancouver in a general election. If the party selects Eby as their leader, I'd put that on par with the selection of Dix -- short-sighted political malpractice.
RUK
Nov 13, 2013 at 4:44pm
I like Farnsworth, but I don't know that the gay thing will play better in the hinterlands than the Doogie thing either. (Then again, I dunno - I haven't lived in small towns for years, maybe things are better now?)
Doogie may be young but there may also be a blowback to being a career politician - Farnsworth's Wikipedia page doesn't say what he did before politics whereas we know about Eby and PIVOT.
Say what you like about PIVOT but it is a small business that went from start up to a real force at least in the human rights law area here in BC.
Being able to tell the right wingers "hey, I do know about starting up a firm and dealing with red tape and making payroll and getting clients" is a major ace for a left politician to play.
Both these guys would be ok but I think Eby is a little bit shinier and a better front man for the band.
But that won't mean anything unless the band has some great tunes, i.e. a message of sober fiscal governance, out of the box thinking, justice, clarity, and some optimism for the future that can overcome the natural head start that the business party always has in our elections.
The NDP also has to deal with this ethnic mass voter debacle thing immediately. Let's get that pain out of the way - and it is gonna be pain, the cries of "oh you are racist" etc. But it has to be done. You can't rig nominations and then be the party that runs against ethical shadiness.
A Crispy Clerk
Nov 14, 2013 at 7:33am
Eby any day of the week!
If I didnt previously think he was the right pick, seeing that the BC Libs are scared enough of him to come troll the comments really cements it.
Shepsil
Nov 18, 2013 at 11:04am
Mike Farnworth is from the politics of "lets move closer to middle". David Eby is an extremely progressive politician who beat Christy Clark by over 1,000 votes in his first Provincial election 6 mths ago.
David Eby could beat the BC Liberals with one hand tied behind his back.
Frank Ballard
Nov 18, 2013 at 11:30am
David Eby would lead the NDP to worse defeat than they just suffered. He does not have the experience to lead the party or caucus. And his previous stated opinions when he was with the BCCLA and Pivot Legal will doom the party in seats they need to win to form government...the suburbs and interior...Eby will not play well there at all.
Alex Hartman
Nov 28, 2013 at 12:28pm
I think that mike far worth should be the next ndp leader because he has expierence being a poco mla. Since 1991 ,while my mla eby is good for my riding I think he doesn,t have as much expierence govenoring . We need change in bc not more of the same and I am hopeful that far worth will make that change
The Pink Floyd
Dec 7, 2013 at 12:16pm
If the NDP is foolish enough to elect Eby God help us all. Eby has many good attributes but, is firmly placed on the left wing of the party. The NDP does a good job capturing and making sure their loyal 40% get out and vote where they fail time and again is convincing the 10% of moderate swing voters to support their cause. For my money it is either Farnworth or Heyman.
Finally regarding RUK's comment on Farnworth's sexuality I do not think it would affect the outcome in most ridings even in the more conservative rural areas. Richard Hatfield was premier in New Brunswick for many years, a traditional conservative bastion, where it was an open secret he was gay. I submit that if the good people of New Brunswick were comfortable electing a homosexual premier in 1970 BC is ready to do so in 2017.