Jockeying for Position in the Political Horse Race
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 @ 3:45 AM
The Liberals are in high gear looking for a potential candidate to fill the vacancy created with Pat Bell’s exit from politics.
If your ear is to the ground you will soon hear that Lynn Hall is the candidate quietly being talked about as the man to replace Bell.
Hall arrived at Prince George City Hall with great expectations after serving as the board chair of the School District.
He has served on Council for a year and his presence has been lack lustre at best. Hall has repeatedly made reference to the difficult days of school closures, when making Council decisions. Those were indeed tough times, but that was then, this is now, and the Council work is different.
If you are going to be recognized for your work around the Council table you can’t be afraid to stand up and be counted. Being a “nice Guy” doesn’t win you any points in the game of politics and it goes without saying if the Liberals field him as a star candidate, Bobby Deepak will eat him alive.
Now there are some others with stars in their eyes, one name that comes to mind is Cameron Stolz who ran unsuccessfully for the nomination as a conservative in the Prince George Peace River riding. Even though Stloz has been told by then party brass not to put his name forward his ego is such that he would like to anyway.
So who is left? Well the party can’t tramp out Dan McLaren who ran against Pat Bell in the nomination for the riding. He is facing his own problems and even having him around the fold is something that the Liberals don’t seem to want at this time.
Shari Green, Mayor of Prince George will be fighting for her life in the next civic election much less trying to grab a piece of the provincial action.
So where does that leave us? Well as you looked around the room at the meeting where Pat Bell announced he was not running, you could see a number of players looking for the job.
It was hard to accept that Bell was just announcing his departure and yet before the body was cold, the players were out there trying to stake their claim. Sad indeed.
I’m Meisner and that’ one man’s opinion.
Comments
One would think that an established political party would have a succession system. It does not seem to be. Instead, it is the typical adversarial system of people coming forward when the time comes, each h hoping and thinking that they will become the anointed one.
It looks to me that in the need to continue to support a successful riding association candidate several individuals who could be mentored to become familiar to the riding association members and the general public in the electoral district are not given any support until the current MLA steps down or is defeated in a general election.
Pat came from virtually nowhere and grew and grew into his current high ranking position in cabinet. Who do we know who has that potential? It might just be someone who no one is thinking about at this time.
Name recognition in provincial politics may not be the asset it is in civic politics. Being a widing association n “insider” may be the advantage to get a winning nomination and, after that, the “machine” will be the support for that individual.
I think we saw how that worked in the Federal situation for Peace River/PG recently.
Anyone but Lyn Hall please. The man did nothing but smile for the camera as a school trustee and he has done nothing as a member of council. He has absolutely no leadership abilities and is, quite frankly, a lame duck when faced with a difficult issue.
I’m sure a lot of us still remember the smug arrogance that he brought to the alleged public discussions they had with the last round of school closures. Whenever he was asked a question he responded with, “We will email you a response.” I’m serious, every single question directed to Lyn Hall received that answer. It was the most pathetic display I’ve ever seen. (I have yet to receive my emailed response. :) )
It was fun though watching Lois Boone foaming at the mouth when confronted by one angry parent but that’s another story.
Lyn Hall will do well as a Liberal, he is used to wasting money / reducing services from his time at the school district, he then jumped that sinking ship to get on city council which was already sinking and now he can jump on the Liberals leaky boat and go down with them.
Lyn Hall was supposed to attend a meeting in Mackenzie with parents wanting to re-open their closed school. He missed the meeting. The reason? “I’ll have to look closer at my daytimer”
Funny, the vice chair at the time and the Superintendent of our district were also supposed to be at that meeting. Apparently they didn’t check their daytimers either
Come on, the guys name is Lyn, how serious can we take him anyways?
You are all off base. I think it is already decided and you will find out today. An excellent candidate will through his hat in the ring tomorrow.
It does not matter who is nominated to replace pat. The LIEberals are pretty much finished. Maybe the rich will vote for them and those who enjoyed the HST but the majority will be voting for anything but that. So who cares if they put in hall or green or any of these others who already have such great reputations. The LIEberals will not win no matter who is trying for them. Pat bell knows this too. The health story, while a good reason to get off the ship now IMO is not the real reason for him to quit. It would have been nice to see pat stick it out and take the defeat like a man but now taxpayers can watch with glee the new candidate get wiped off the political map.
ALL of us are off base Jack son? I see ..:-)
Does anyone know what Lyn Hall’s experience is outside of the school board or city hall? For example, in the private sector?
Matty be here everyday. GET USED TO IT.
Lyn Hall as a name? No big deal. My music teacher in high school in the 60’s was named Beverly Carrol Fife. He was respected. But that was in the 60’s. Things were a bit different then.
I would like the Liberals to win, just so they can be left with the task of trying to clean up the debt mess this province is in. Not sure if BC could survive 4 more years of their “fiscal prudence” though.
Good analysis Ben on some potential candidates. Will be interesting to watch.
I would like to see Gaurav Parmar submit his name but I don’t know his political affiliation. He seems like a natural born leader with morals (even though he is a lawyer LOL).
“Does anyone know what Lyn Hall’s experience is outside of the school board or city hall? For example, in the private sector?”
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lynn is a civil servant with the provincial government at the bc access centre. that would be in the public sector, not private sector.
What about Marshall Smith? He’s got connections in with the Liberal Party and to City Hall I hear. Bonus
LOL …LOL … LOL …. very funny!!!!!
Oh well call me what ever doesn’t change what is in store for the LIEberals. Soon they are going to all be EXTINGUISHED. Just like the HST. LOL LOL LOL LOL. Now that’s funny.
I’d like to see a strong independent run and get elected for the riding. We know the BC liberals will not be forming the next government… but what if we have a minority ndp government with a few independents as the power brokers making the legislature work as a legislature that represents… thats our best bet IMO.
A minority government won’t happen. We’ll likely be stuck with the NDP for a term at least.
reflecting – you know that there is no law for a person with a record to run for some political positions don’t you? ;)
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