Bill Tieleman says it would be "fun" to run against Christy Clark in Vancouver-Point Grey

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      Political commentator and consultant Bill Tieleman says he hasn't ruled out running for the NDP against Premier-designate Christy Clark if she seeks a seat in Vancouver-Point Grey.

      Tieleman, a columnist for 24 hours and former NDP government director of communications, has lived in Vancouver-Point Grey since 1995. During the first year of his life, he also lived in the constituency on York Street.

      "I have not made any decision whatsoever to run for the NDP in this riding or any other riding, and I've never run before," Tieleman told the Georgia Straight by phone. "However, it would be a lot of fun to run against Christy Clark—and put to her on a regular basis in the campaign the questions about the Basi-Virk/B.C. legislature raid that remain unanswered."

      Today (February 28), Premier Gordon Campbell told reporters that he is prepared to resign his seat in Vancouver-Point Grey to enable Clark to run in a by-election.

      After she won the B.C. Liberal leadership on February 26, Clark raised the possibility of seeking a seat in Campbell's constituency.

      Tieleman said that he also thinks it would be "fun" to ask questions about all sorts of government policies that don't put families first. In particular, he cited the B.C. Liberal government posting the worst child-poverty record in Canada for seven straight years.

      "She didn't propose any poverty action plan to relieve poverty," Tieleman said of Clark. "She just says meaningless things like 'families first' when we've had a government, of which she will now lead, whose members have consistently done families last."

      Earlier today, former Vancouver-Point Grey NDP candidate Mel Lehan told the Straight that he's not sure he wants to run for a third time. Lehan lost to Campbell in 2005 and 2009.

      Tieleman, a long-time New Democrat, was one of the leaders of the Fight HST campaign, which gathered enough signatures to force a provincewide referendum.

      Clark has indicated that she favours holding a referendum on June 24 on the future of the HST.

      Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.

      Comments

      44 Comments

      Erling

      Feb 28, 2011 at 7:51pm

      Oh god yes please do this. Best by-election ever.

      ChristyClarkFan

      Feb 28, 2011 at 7:52pm

      BRING IT ON BILL!

      Tommy

      Feb 28, 2011 at 8:03pm

      Wow, Glen Clark's former chief-of-staff (Dix) running for the leadership of the NDP and his former communications director (Tieleman) running for a seat in the legislature.

      Feels like the 1990's all over again. Maybe those 90210 episodes aren't reruns and I've actually gone back in time.

      Bill Miner

      Feb 28, 2011 at 8:29pm

      Go For it Bill. Families first, what a crock of - - - t. What a Phony.

      Mark Fornataro

      Feb 28, 2011 at 8:35pm

      Go for it Bill!

      tim.

      Feb 28, 2011 at 8:54pm

      bill should run. he would be good. and it would be the strongest way for british columbians to say "no" to the bc liberals if even their own leader can't get elected.

      EastVanDave

      Feb 28, 2011 at 9:24pm

      What a load from both parties. Families are merely a political commodity on which both of BC's self-serving, overly-tired, worn-out parties trade.
      Both sides really just want access to our collective tax dollars for their own particular purposes - their families, not yours or mine.
      But the issue here is Tielman:
      As a key member of Glen Clark's staff, he was clearly incompetent at getting a positive message out while he was communications director, unless you include Clark getting castigated by all the press for 2 years. Tielman was a failure as communications director, and the best he can manage as a columnist is to be published in Free Litter rags. No one would pay for that claptrap. So what does he have to offer? Smarminess?
      So yeah, go for it Bill, It'd be fun to see another NDP beatdown.

      Cornelius

      Feb 28, 2011 at 9:25pm

      She couldn't win against you in a ByElection, but in a full on Election, she might have a chance. Bill, you would make a great candidate and just think, you wouldn't have to deal with the likes of us anymore if you won.

      Lets kick some BC Liberal butt, right out of that new stadium roof!

      Sven Crawson

      Feb 28, 2011 at 10:18pm

      Yawn.

      Hannibal Smith

      Feb 28, 2011 at 11:00pm

      Yes Bill please run, so you can wipe that smile of Christy Clark's face.