Backroom boy Gavin Dew leaps into the foreground as B.C. Liberal candidate in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant

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      It's looking like Premier Christy Clark is getting closer to calling a by-election in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant.

      Today, her B.C. Liberals nominated Gavin Dew as the candidate in a riding that's never before supported the party.

      Dew is a principal with ADDO Consulting.

      "My sweetspot is at the intersection of business, politics, and communications," Dew writes on his LinkedIn page. "I am currently consulting on issues management, social license to operate for land development and resource companies, and business planning for startups and fledgling organizations."

      He was campaign manager for Liberal MLA Ralph Sultan in West Vancouver–Capilano in the last provincial election. Dew was also a get-out-the-vote regional director for the Obama for American campaign in New Hampshire in 2012.

      Dew is a former director of the Vancouver NPA and was described by the Straight in 2008 as the party's social media expert.

      He's also well-versed in the ground game of politics, which is often overlooked by media pundits who focus more attention on what's going on over the airwaves.

      In addition, he worked for a couple of years as a senior consultant at James Hoggan & Associates. The public-relations firm's founder, James Hoggan, chairs the board of the David Suzuki Foundation.

      Vancouver–Mount Pleasant was represented by the NDP's Jenny Kwan from 1996 until she resigned earlier this year to run for Parliament.

      Prior to that, the MLA was former NDP premier Mike Harcourt.

      The NDP has nominated Melanie Mark, a former president of the Urban Native Youth Association. For many years, Mark worked in the office of the representative for children and youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.

      The Greens have nominated Pete Fry, who attracted more than 46,000 votes in his only run for council in 2014. Fry is a former chair of the Strathcona Residents Association and cofounded the Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods.

      The premier also has to call a by-election in Coquitlam–Burke Mountain after the B.C. Liberal MLA, Doug Horne, resigned after six years in office to run as a Conservative federal candidate.

      The deadline for calling a by-election in Vancouver–Mount Pleasant is January 13, whereas the premier could wait until February 17 before ordering one in Coquitlam–Burke Mountain.

      Editor's note: This story was adjusted on February 1 to clarify Dew's role with the Obama campaign in 2012.

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