Who Has The Wheels To Lead The Liberals In The Next Provincial Elecetion

By Ben Meisner

Yesterday we talked about Premier Gordon Campbell not leading the party into the next provincial election. Today,we ask  the question,  who are the front runners?

Campbell will have to stay around for the next two years, that gives a new leader one year to put his or her mark on the Party and Province and with the Province facing some major cuts in the March budget, the HST and the Olympic hangover facing  B.C.,   it will take at least two years for the voters to get the bad taste out of their mouths.

Carole Taylor is by far the front runner, if she wants the job. The problem with Carole Taylor as head of the BC Liberals is that she is older than Campbell, and really doesn’t need the job. She has said repeatedly that she is not interested, but........

Rich Coleman is constantly mentioned; perhaps by Rich Coleman wanting his name out there to get an early jump. He did not shoot the lights out as Forest Minister but is well liked.

George Abbott and Colin Hansen are old war horses in the party, one for sure will seek the nod but apart from an inside track with the old guard, that old guard label could be the downside for either man.

Our two MLA’s Shirley Bond and Pat Bell  have no interest in the prize, although in Bell’s case he is well thought of in the Forest Industry and Bond is known as a tireless worker. Neither has the "604" label and if you want to win, you will need  it.

That leaves two relatively unknowns that we are about to hear more from in the coming years. Children and Development Minister Mary Polak, (who?) and Dianne Watt, Surrey Mayor. When you mention either woman you never have them say, “Oh No Not Me”.

Watt has been taking speaking engagements;”out of town” which suggests  she is testing the waters. Polak meantime is doing the same in spite of not having a high profile cabinet post.

So looking back at the list, there is every chance that the next leader of the Liberal Party in BC could be a woman.

Now Carole James is all but a shoe in to be the NDP leader in the next election. So you face the real possibility that you will be voting for a woman in the next election regardless of your political stripe.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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