The new mayoral candidate for civic party Vision Vancouver didn't waste any time savoring his victory after beating two challengers for the nomination of the centre-left party on Sunday.
Gregor Robertson immediately turned his attention to Peter Ladner, his main opponent in this November's Vancouver mayoralty elections.
"I'm going to be tough on the record that the [Vancouver's ruling civic party, the Non-Partisan Association NPA] has had over these last three years and Councillor Ladner is responsible for that," he said.
Robertson made the comment on morning radio, the day after he easily beat his closest opponent Raymond Louie to win the mayor nomination for Vision Vancouver.
After his nomination win, Robertson is making sure that people don't forget the links between Lander and ousted mayor Sam Sullivan. Ladner defeated Sullivan last week in a nomination vote to become the NPA's mayoral candidate.
"I think there is this perception that Mr. Ladner is kinder and gentler,and greener but he's voted lock step with the mayor and his colleagues and they've got to stand for that record," he said.
But Ladner was quick to respond to this comments.
"I want to congratulate Gregor. He did a great job obviously, got all the [New Democratic Party] machine out there for him."
The comment was a clear reference to Robertson's NDP connections.
"A lot of the people who were involved in his campaign were part of the NDP machine and I think there's a desire for the NDP to have a mayor in Vancouver during the Olympics."
On Monday, NDP leader Carole James says Gregor Robertson would be a good mayor for Vancouver because he represents a progressive voice and is committed to the city.
However, she also says she hopes to talk to Robertson sometime this week about whether he can stay on as an NDP MLA during the campaign for November's civic elections.
As they gear up for the looming campaign, there are a number other issues that both candidates need to be focused on, analysts say, including homelessness - affordability and crime.
It's the candidates' ability to sway voters on these areas that analysts say will be the real factor heading towards November.
"I think it's going to be a battle of ideas. I think both men are intensely decent fellows, I think they both want to talk ideas," said CTV political analyst Alex Tsakumis.
So while yesterday was a victory for Gregor Robertson, it's only the first step. The first of many left to climb between now and voting day.
Analysts say a key challenge for Robertson will be re-uniting Vision with its predecessor the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE). Cope scored a major victory in 2002 when Larry Campbell was elected mayor.
He was the inspiration for the television series Da Vinci's Inquest and brought glamour and grit to City Hall, but not unity. Campbell grew tired of parisan politics. He split from COPE with his supporters in tow, a move that lead to the creation of Vision Vancouver. The party now led by Robertson.
Analysts say he will need as much support as he can muster to toss out the NPA in November.
With a reports by CTV British Columbia's Stephen Smart and Carrie Stefanson
