Gregor Robertson pledges not to run in federal election if he's reelected mayor of Vancouver

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      Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson has indicated that if he's reelected on November 15, he won't trigger a costly by-election within a year by quitting to run for Parliament.

      "My absolute intention is to serve out a full term if I'm elected to a third term in office," Robertson told the Georgia Straight after an October 22 mayoral debate at Langara College. "I have no plans to run in the federal election."

      To remove any ambiguity, the Straight then asked Robertson if he would "rule out" running in the next federal election.

      "Yes," Robertson replied.

      On his nomination form, Robertson's list of signatures included numerous federal Liberals, including his press secretary, Braeden Caley, and Justin Kaiser, president of the Young Liberals of Canada, as well as the federal Liberals' policy chair in B.C., Brittney Kerr, and Paul Nixey, a former communications director for Vancouver Centre Liberal MP Hedy Fry. Nixey is cochair of Vision Vancouver's board of directors.

      (For more federal Liberals on Robertson's nomination form, see this article by Bob Mackin.)

      Robertson didn't serve out his full term as an MLA after he was elected on the NDP slate in Vancouver-Fairview in 2005. He quit that job so he could run for mayor of Vancouver in 2008, prompting a provincial by-election.

      Comments

      11 Comments

      Imtiaz Popat

      Oct 23, 2014 at 10:09am

      From NDP MLA, to Vision Mayor to Liberal MP. It's logical progression to the right. Bob Casting at the Mayor debate at Lanagara also called NPA and Vision parties to the right. If you want a real progressive party to left in City Hall then vote for Meena Wong and COPE and let Gregor Robertson move on.

      King of Timing

      Oct 23, 2014 at 11:23am

      No, I won't go to Ottawa if you give me another 3 years to leave my bootprints all over Vancouver. The fact that he's bringing this up causes suspicion. Maybe he thinks he might lose next month. Then what...continue to feed at the Happy Planet trough? Send Moonbeam packing. He's messed Vancouver up enough. Goodness knows he won't be able to do anything Federally as it hasn't worked for Hedy, Libby and whoever else represents Vancouver in Ottawa. That is, assuming he could get elected.

      James Garrett-Chen

      Oct 23, 2014 at 11:37am

      Not sure if that's a promise or a threat? Being surrounded by federal Liberals isn't ideal for credibility.

      Empreur

      Oct 23, 2014 at 11:56am

      I'm sure he doesn't intend to run federally now, but there's nothing actually stoppnig him from doing so later...

      I must give it to Vision

      Oct 23, 2014 at 12:16pm

      They're sure good at creating who gives a fuck red herrings to distract people from what they're really doing.

      People really want to vote for this guy again?

      Oct 23, 2014 at 4:07pm

      No wonder Vancouver is the shape it's in... geez.

      LOL!

      Oct 23, 2014 at 8:45pm

      How nice that Moonbeam pledges not to grind the taxpayers through another expensive bi-election for his own personal and political gain like before.

      Can we please exercise the brainpower to vote for someone who stands by their word and commitment to the people of Vancouver?

      Dr. Jack

      Oct 23, 2014 at 11:01pm

      If he promises NOT to run for anything, I will buy him a croissant with a cappuccino.

      Less damage for Vancouver

      cosmicsync

      Oct 24, 2014 at 9:50am

      Has anyone asked Kirk LaPointe to confirm that he won't run for the federal Conservatives if elected?

      James Garrett-Chen

      Oct 25, 2014 at 12:22pm

      Given Vision's expertise in diversion, I couldn't help but wonder if this seemingly pointless press release had another purpose. Could it be that another prominent figure in Vision intends a jump to federal politics? That would also necessitate a costly bye-election. By my measure, the consistent star performer from Vision is Patti Bacchus. What are her future plans, I wonder?