Speculation of potential candidates to replace Premier John Horgan gains momentum

Any public jockeying for the top job at the BC NDP hasn’t started yet but speculation about who will be running for the job has.

By all accounts, there are big shoes to fill, with John Horgan saying it’s time for a new leader.

Some of the names circling as possible leadership hopefuls are ministers Selina Robinson, Ravi Kahlon, Josie Osborne, and perceived front runner David Eby.

However, Eby’s answer remained vague when he was asked about it Wednesday.

“I’ll obviously be having conversations with my family, with my friends, and my colleagues, with the party and with British Columbians about how we move forward together,” he told reporters, echoing the general response so far.

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• B.C. Premier John Horgan to step down

“Caucus is unified in our need to be focused on the interests of British Columbians because that has been John’s secret to success,” Eby added.

Political scientist Gerald Baier says the party has some serious considerations going forward including honouring the party’s diversity focus.

“Is there enough attention to visible minorities among the candidates? Is there enough attention to women among the leading candidates?”

“Probably (there) is some consensus that they aren’t ready to open up a blood bath,” he says.

He adds it will be interesting to see if anyone from outside the inner circle enters the race – one person thought possible there is Brad West the outgoing Port Coquitlam mayor.

“There’s going to be a lot of pressure from within to make sure the candidate pool is diverse.”

Premier John Horgan announced Tuesday he will step down after a new NDP leader is elected later this year.

“Many of you will know, in fact I’m pretty sure it’s not a secret, that I have gone through my second bout of cancer and successfully went through 35 radiation treatments and I am currently cancer-free. My health is good but my energy flags as the days go by,” he said.

“So before I could ask my colleagues what their plans were for the coming two years and beyond, I had to ask myself that,” the premier continued. “We came to the conclusion that I’m not able to make another six-year commitment to this job and as a result, I’ve asked Aaron Sumexheltza, the president of the B.C. NDP, to work with our governing body, the provincial council, and the executive, to select a date in the fall for a leadership convention.”