Fairview by-election timing
Posted August 31, 2008 by Sacha Peter - Link
Category: By-Election
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I had thought that the writ on the Vancouver-Fairview by-election will drop very soon, for a September 29 by-election.
This is obviously not happening, one reason because the BC Liberals still have to settle their nomination – whether Margaret MacDiarmid or Rick Peterson manages to get enough people to sit in the chairs for the nomination meeting. Either of those will be facing NDP candidate Jenn McGinn and other candidates (whom have little chance of winning the seat).
Complicating matters is the relative uncertainty of the Federal election (will it be called this week, to be held on the highly rumoured date of October 14, 2008) and also a conflict with the municipal election cycle (November 15, 2008).
There is risk concerning when to time the by-election, but if it was my call for the premier’s office, I would be doing it sooner than later. The risk of an adverse result would be more blunted with as much news as possible between the election result and the date of the general election – especially if the by-election happens before the November 4, 2008 US presidential election.