Tough times in the mayor's office when political bedmates fall out

Vancouver

The office of Vancouver mayor has always been regarded as a political prize and springboard to greater glory. Past mayors have gone on to become provincial premiers; previous mayor Larry Campbell eased into a spot in the federal senate.

But incumbent Mayor Sam Sullivan has discovered that the post also comes with its share of slings and arrows. These days - particularly should he venture into the Downtown Eastside - Mayor Sullivan can't make any kind of appearance without being shouted down by protesters.

His political rivals can scent blood. And it's not just his traditional enemies that Mayor Sullivan needs to be worried about. He is also under attack from within his own party, the centre-right Non-Partisan Association (NPA). One of the NPA's councillors, Peter Ladner, announced last week that he is going to try to unseat the mayor.

As Mr Ladner explains it, he doesn't want to bad-mouth the current mayor, who was once a close ally. But he says he has heard over and over again from the public that they have lost trust in the mayor and confidence in the way the city is being managed. 'When the ship is heading towards the rocks and someone can do something about it, I feel a responsibility to grab the steering wheel and change the course,' said Mr Ladner.

The split with the mayor won't be an easy thing for the councillor to negotiate: Mr Ladner wants to continue to run under the NPA banner rather than as an independent.

But the party's board has decided that incumbent NPA candidates will stay on the party's slate for the upcoming election only if they have community support.