By The Canadian Press

MLA Sam Sullivan first to announce bid to become leader of BC Liberals

Sep 22, 2017 | 12:35 PM

VANCOUVER — British Columbia MLA Sam Sullivan has become the first person to announce plans to run for the leadership of the province’s Liberal party, and others are expected to be lining up soon.

Sullivan, a former Vancouver mayor who was first elected to the legislature in 2012, says in a news release Thursday he had formally filed his application for the party’s leadership race and vows to bring more urban and youth support to the party.

Leadership of the B.C. Liberal Party became vacant in August when former premier Christy Clark resigned from politics.

In interview last week, Rich Coleman told radio station CHNL that Mike Bernier, Todd Stone, Mike de Jong and Andrew Wilkinson, all former cabinet ministers in B.C.’s previous Liberal government, have been considering their chances, too.

Coleman said Conservative MLA Dianne Watts and newly elected Vancouver-Langara Liberal Michael Lee are also mulling leadership bids and would have until Dec. 29 to decide whether to join the leadership race.

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The party says the first of six leadership debates will be held on Oct. 15, and voting will take place in February.

—With files from CHNL

The Canadian Press