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Mov ers & Shaker s PREMIER CHRISTY CLARK (BRITISH COLUMBIA)


The Charismatic Christy Clark


F


As a radio host on CKNW she has both a reputation for ‘plain speaking’ and a familiarity factor for many voters, especially those outside of the urban areas. This worked


to her advantage. Kathleen Cross


ollowing on the heels of our C&E Canada, December 2010 issue - Women in Politics - comes the


remarkable story of Christy Clark who won the BC Liberal leadership race on February 26, and in doing so became only the second woman in BC’s his- tory to become Premier, and the fourth woman Premier in Canadian history. She held political office as the Mem- ber of the BC Legislative Assembly for Port Moody-Westwood from 1996- 2005. During that time she held vari- ous positions in opposition, as well as in government including Deputy Premier, Minister of Education, and Minister of Children and Family Development. Like Toronto Mayor Rob Ford with


his former radio show on AM640, she took full advantage of the name recog- nition and soapbox opportunities of- fered in hosting The Christy Clark Show, which aired on 980AM in Vancouver from August, 2007 through to her deci- sion in December 2010 to enter the BC Liberal leadership race. C&E congratulates Premier Clark on her achievement. We are grateful to have the insights into her victory from notable British Columbians Doug McArthur, Profes- sor and Distinguished Fellow, Graduate School of Public Policy at Simon Fra- ser University; Jeanette Ashe, Political Science Instructor, Douglas


College;


Kathleen Cross, expert in political com- munications and teacher at the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University; and Marjorie Griffin Co- hen, Professor of Political Economy at Simon Fraser University.


C&E asked our panel seven questions.


1. What were Christy Clark’s strengths? As a candidate and as a campaigner? Kathleen Cross: There is no doubt that


10 Campaigns & Elections | Canadian Edition


Christy Clark has a populace appeal. As a radio host on CKNW she has both a reputation for ‘plain speaking’ and a familiarity factor for many voters, espe- cially those outside of the urban areas. This worked to her advantage.


Most


leadership candidates are only known through their mediated projections on the news, which are partial at best. Clearly, she knew her best bet was not


with the party elite, none of whom sup- ported her, but with the membership - and particularly the rural member- ship. And she worked it, trying to seem like the ‘outsider’ because of her years outside of government, and as a kinder gentler politician. So, her ‘families first’ campaign spoke to that criticism of the Campbell liberals.


Marjorie Griffin Cohen: Christy Clark has name recognition because of her previous work as a talk-show radio host. Also, she had an excellent cam- paign team that raised the most money of any candidate. This gave her a decid- ed advantage. As a campaigner she was energetic, cheerful, and positive.


Doug McArthur: She positioned herself successfully as the outsider. This was smart given the internal anger at the recent performance of the Campbell Government. She also used her minor celebrity status as as radio talk show host to sell memberships and to get attention. She acted as a kind of star with little to say other than vague generalities that work for a time if you have star qualities.


Jeanette Ashe: Her most obvious strength was her campaign team – it worked to sign up more party members than the others.


2. What were her weaknesses and how did she overcome them?


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