Vancouver Point Grey
Incumbent David Eby did something no other NDPer did in the 2013 election: He toppled Liberal leader Christy Clark, forcing her to seek a seat in Kelowna. Since his victory, Eby’s built quite a profile for himself after being on the frontlines of the great housing debate in Vancouver. His main challenger this time around is Liberal James Lombardi. Until Eby’s victory in 2013, the riding had been a Liberal stronghold since 1996. Was Eby’s win a fluke? Or will he be re-elected and one day become leader of the NDP?
Vancouver Fraserview
Once Vancouver city council foes, the NDP’s George Chow and incumbent Suzanne Anton of the Liberals are battling it out in a riding that has elected Liberals Ken Johnston in 2001, Wally Oppal in 2005 and Kash Heed in 2009. But in the last two elections, the NDP has come within 750 votes both times of winning the riding. No wonder NDP leader John Horgan is a frequent visitor. Will Chow’s profile as a former Vision Vancouver city councillor and leader in the Chinese community be the difference this time around? Or will he fall to the Liberals, as he did as the NDP’s candidate in Vancouver-Langara in 2013?
Vancouver Fairview
It’s hard to get a read on this riding, which has elected NDPers and Liberals. Gregor Robertson once held the riding for the NDP before successfully running for mayor in 2008. Then the NDP’s Jenn McGinn won a byelection before she lost to Liberal Margaret MacDiarmid in the 2009 vote. George Heyman returned the riding to the NDP in 2013, winning by more than 1,300 votes. Now he faces Gabe Garfinkel, a political rookie who once was executive assistant to Premier Christy Clark. Garfinkel defeated NPA city councillor Elizabeth Ball to win the Liberals’ nomination race in the riding.
Vancouver False Creek
The riding has had only two MLAs — both Liberals — since it was created for the 2009 election. Mary McNeil, a former CEO of the B.C. Cancer Foundation, held the riding for one term before deciding not to seek re-election. Former mayor Sam Sullivan returned to politics to beat the NDP’s Matt Toner by more than 3,200 votes in the 2013 vote. Sullivan is seeking re-election and faces main challenger Morgane Oger of the NDP, who would become the first openly transgender MLA in B.C. history, if she wins.
— Mike Howell
