MLA Robertson set to enter Vancouver's mayoral race

New Democratic MLA Gregor Robertson is expected to announce Sunday his intention to run for mayor in Vancouver's next municipal election.

Robertson's announcement comes on the heels of incumbentCoun. Peter Ladner saying he plans to challenge current Mayor Sam Sullivan for the Non-Partisan Association's (NPA) nomination in November's civic election.

Robertson told CBC Newshe will make up his mind on Friday, and then reveal his plan Sunday.

"Tomorrow, I'll make a decision as to what I'm going to proceed with," Robertson said late Thursday night.

Sources from Vision Vancouver thecivic opposition party told CBC News that Robertson, the MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, will run for mayor under the Vision banner.

NDP forestry critic Bob Simpson told CBC News Thursday night that Robertson has already confirmed itto him and that he thought Robertsonmade the right choice to enter civic politics.

"He [Robertson] was nervously optimistic," Simpson said. "But he wouldn't make the decision if he didn't think he could win the Vancouver mayoralty race and give Vancouver the kind of mayor that it deserves."

Robertson must now try to win the Vision Vancouver nomination. If he does, he'llthen go up against mayoral candidates from the NPA andthe Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE).

On Thursday morning, Ladner announced at a news conference at Vancouver City Hall that he plans to challenge Sullivan, but it's not clear how Ladner will proceed in his run for the civic party's endorsement.

Sullivan told CBC News Thursday night his priorities are to ensure the city is properly run.

"I'm going to do anything I can to make sure the city is well-run and the NPA is healthy and cohesive," Sullivan said.

Sullivan said it was a difficult time in 2002 when the NPA split and lost in the civic election.

"When I brought everybody together in the last [2005] election we went from two seats to majorities on the parks board, school board and council," he said.

"I think that I can lead the NPA into even bigger majorities in this next term," he said.

On Wednesday night the NPAboardrefused Ladner's request to change its rules to allow him to run against Sullivan and seek the party's nomination.

NPA president Matthew Taylor said the board approved a nomination process six months ago that essentially gave a green light to Sullivan to run again for mayor, and nothing has changed.

Sullivan has previously said thathis ownnomination would have to be endorsedby the generalparty membership at an upcoming meeting.

There is speculation Ladner will use that process as an opportunity to open up the process and win the party's nomination.

The NPA board could still decide not to give Sullivan its final endorsement to run again for mayor, but that decision has not yet been made, Taylor said.

Ladner was first elected to Vancouver City Council in 2002 and re-elected in 2005. He isvice-president and part-owner of the Business in Vancouver weekly newspaper.

Sullivan was elected to Vancouver City Council in 1993 and served as a councillor for 12 years. He was elected mayor in November 2005.