A university professor who has lived and rented in the West End for 14 years has announced that he'll challenge a well-connected former sports mogul for the Liberal nomination in the riding.
And David Harper says his local experience is why he should win the B.C. Liberal nomination to represent the riding in the next provincial election.
"It wasn't that long ago where I was rolling up pennies, nickels and dimes to pay my rent at the end of the month," he said. "And when you're doing that you're very close to being homeless."
Harper is a university professor at the University of the Fraser Valley.
But it's now been months since Arthur Griffiths, the former owner of the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Vancouver Canucks, threw his hat in the ring in the same riding.
And ever since, the son of one of B.C.'s wealthiest families has been shaking hands with voters.
"I've been to every community group in the West End, I've been meeting with individuals on the street and in coffee shops," said Griffiths.
And while the former sports mogul is in meetings with media consultants to incorporate more video on his website, Harper uses his apartment as a headquarters.
"No, I don't have the same resources as my opponent," said Harper. But he says that might be his edge.
"There's a difference between realizing the issues and having firsthand knowledge of the issues," said Harper.
Griffiths says that while he lives in Point Grey, he just got an apartment in the West End, near Stanley Park.
But he's not moving out of the Point Grey home permanently, said Griffiths.
"I have a family, a wife and a daughter that live and work and go to school on the West Side," he said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Sarah Galashan
