Battle for votes in Vancouver-False Creek nears end

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      With only days left in the provincial election campaign, the battle for the Vancouver-False Creek riding is nearing an end for its high-profile Liberal and NDP candidates.

      For NDP contender Matt Toner, the campaign has been a fight to get his name out there as his Liberal opponent is former Vancouver mayor Sam SullivanToner, a digital media entrepreneur, said his campaign has focused on trying to close the name-recognition gap with Sullivan.

      Toner scored some public attention early on by handing out orange doggy jackets bearing his name. The media-friendly move seemed to be a hit in a riding notable for its pooch-friendly parks and paths.

      “A few months ago, nobody knew who the hell I was. That’s for sure,” he told the Straight by phone. “And now we’ve found that people have heard of me. They’ve seen my picture. They’ve connected with us via social media.”

      “I think we’ve done a decent job of narrowing that gap. Now is that going to be enough to put us over the top? I don’t know, but I know that a few months ago people had written us off and now I think the race is very close.”

      For his part, Sullivan is expressing confidence in his campaigning efforts as voting day approaches on May 14.

      “We feel that we’ve done the best that we could. We’re getting good feedback from the streets and we’re cautiously optimistic,” he told the Straight by phone.

      Sullivan acknowledged he has an edge, in part, because of his already-established profile in the riding.

      “My advantage for me is that I’ve spent 10 years very active in the riding, and since I don’t drive, I’m always travelling in my wheelchair around the neighbourhood, I guess I’m kind of recognizable and people do know that I’m their neighbour, that I’m invested in their neighbourhood.”

      Meanwhile, Green candidate Daniel Tseghay expressed no regrets about his campaign against the two high-profile, would-be MLAs.

      “I’m happy because I’ve had a chance to speak out on certain issues and, whatever the results, I’m perfectly comfortable with that,” Tseghay told the Straight by phone.

      Tseghay, a freelance writer and English teacher, admitted his first foray as a provincial candidate has been challenging.

      “It’s a very tough campaign. Matt Toner and Sam Sullivan of course are running very good campaigns and they’ve got a lot of support,” he said.

      “And also the district, Vancouver-False Creek, is probably not the most typical district for someone with my kind of views, very progressive views. But there’s been positive responses and feedback. There’s a good chunk of Green-minded people in the district.”

      In late April, the Conservatives fired their candidate in the riding, Ian Tootill, for posting controversial comments on Twitter. The party is not running a replacement but Tootill is still seeking election as an independent candidate.

      Mary McNeil, the riding’s former Liberal MLA, is not seeking reelection.

      The other two candidates listed by Elections B.C. for Vancouver-False Creek are James Filippelli with Your Political Party and Sal Vetro with B.C. First.

      Comments

      9 Comments

      Cindy Burron

      May 10, 2013 at 5:50pm

      This afternoon I walked through Coal Harbour along West Hastings from Jervis to Cardero and I didn't see one election sign. The political campaigns have not come to our neighbourhood. No signs no presence and you wouldn't even know there was an election campaign on.

      James Blatchford

      May 10, 2013 at 9:59pm

      Cindy, Sam and the night-stalkers are at it again. Don't be fooled.

      Hazlit

      May 11, 2013 at 9:20am

      Daniel,

      I live in your district and I'm voting Green!

      Voting hassle

      May 11, 2013 at 9:42am

      Too much trouble to vote. They ask for ID before they let you in, then ask for ID agin when before they give you the ballot. What is with that? No wonder less people are voting.

      All Politicians are Lying Assholes

      May 11, 2013 at 11:19am

      Beyond just Voting once every 4-5 years we the public need to put pressure on all Politicians to deliver policies to the benefit of British Colombians not mega Corporations.

      C. Gibson

      May 11, 2013 at 4:59pm

      "Too much trouble to vote" because you need 2 pieces of ID. Seriously?! You need only 1 piece, had you bothered to register & thus have a yellow registration card to bring to the polling station.
      Given your contempt for democracy, perhaps you should move to Pakistan, where at least 29 people are dead for attempting to do what you think is "too much trouble".

      Lee L.

      May 12, 2013 at 11:52am

      Here's a voting strategy for those of you who are as yet undecided.
      Vote for a Liberal candidate. Why you ask?

      It is unlikely that Liberals will gather enough seats this time to win the election but even if they do win, it is very unlikely to be a majority government.
      On the other hand, taking away a seat from the NDP reduces their chances of forming a majority NDP government which I have already lived through in BC and have no desire to repeat.

      My proposal, then, is vote for a minority government. That way, the people of BC will be best protected from the worst either party could do.

      Fieberals Worst Government in BC History

      May 12, 2013 at 3:07pm

      @Lee where have you been the last Decade? Here are the Gross mismanagement of a Liberal Government by a convicted Drunk Driver and his Friends...

      * $565 Million for a Leaky Tarp Roof about $165 Million more than the $400 Million in Fast Ferries

      * Selling the Fast Ferries at a LOSS at pennies on the Dollar (what kind of incompetent mismanagement is that?)

      * Billions in Deficits for the OWE-lympics benefiting both Construction Corporations and Foreign Mexican and Costa Rican Workers including the multi million labor suit,

      * Billion in ENRON style BC Hydro off Balance Sheet Debt,

      * PPP Above Market Rate Contracts forced on BC Hydro to be paid by us the BC Rate Payers for the benefit of private Corporations

      * because apparently the Free Market Neo-Con Liberals believe that private Corporations need Guaranteed Profits.

      * Record Deficits the legacy of the BC Lie-berals.

      Abby

      May 12, 2013 at 5:36pm

      Why my district was changed from Vancouver Center to Vancouver False Creek amazes. My building has very little in common with False Creek North and South towers. Now I cannot vote for Hedy Fry!