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British Columbia NDP candidate for Vancouver-Point Grey, David Eby sings Bon Jovi's "Livin on a Prayer" during the NDP leadership convention in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday April 17, 2011.Darryl Dyck/ The Canadian Press

David Eby can relish the irony now. He found Christy Clark "very pleasant and supportive" in his last professional encounter with her.

As the executive director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association - now on leave - prepared to officially be nominated as the NDP candidate in the Vancouver-Point Grey by-election, he remembered being a guest on Ms. Clark's CKNW radio talk show a year ago.

"I found we had a lot of points in common," said Mr. Eby, well known as the voice of civil liberties in his three-year gig as the public face of the association.

Now Mr. Eby and Ms. Clark have another thing in common. They both want to be the MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey.

Last week, Ms. Clark, the B.C. Liberal Premier, called the May 11 by-election to seek a badly needed seat in the B.C. Legislature.

Winning is crucial to Ms. Clark's future as B.C.'s top Liberal. Although she will officially be nominated this week, she was door-knocking in the riding last weekend. On Monday, she was out mainstreeting. Her campaign manager is none other than Colin Hansen, whom she fired as finance minister in forming her first cabinet.

Departed premier Gordon Campbell held the riding through 15 years. In 2009, he scored 50-per-cent support against 40 per cent for the NDP candidate.

This isn't Mr. Eby's first shot at active politics. As a law student in Nova Scotia, he worked on campaigns for former leader Alexa McDonough. And in 2008, he sought a Vision-Vancouver councillor nomination, losing by 17 votes.

Five weeks ago, members of the NDP riding executive asked Mr. Eby to lunch, and pitched the idea of running for the legislature. He has moved into a rental in the riding so he can argue he is a resident. Win or lose, he plans to live permanently in Vancouver-Point Grey. "I am prepared to make that commitment," he said.

What about Ms. Clark, who lives in Mount Pleasant? "Unfortunately, it's a riding of convenience for Ms. Clark," said Mr. Eby, 34. "This election is about finding a seat in the legislature. I am not sure that's going to play well."

Mr. Eby seems to be having a blast, letting loose as a retail politician. At the weekend leadership meeting of the B.C. NDP, he took to the main stage before hundreds of New Democrats to sing a few bars from Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer. (Mr. Eby is a singer and guitarist for an indie rock band called Ladner - named after the community.)

"We're going to do things a little differently around this campaign," he said. "We're going to have some fun and that element of fun has been missing from politics for too long - as well as a serious discussion about the issues and not just partisan rhetoric."

New Democrats from rookie Leader Adrian Dix on down have vowed to put up a by-election fight against Ms. Clark, raising such issues as the environment, homelessness and the harmonized sales tax.

"I don't think there are very many people in Vancouver-Point Grey who wouldn't want David Eby representing them if they needed help with the provincial government," Mr. Dix said Monday, promising to campaign vigorously with Mr. Eby.

Mr. Eby is gratified. "It's a great feeling to know the NDP is not just going to feed this riding to the Liberals," he said. He hopes constituents are with him as well. "If people want to send a strong enough message," he said, "they will send me as a representative to the legislature."

With a report from Justine Hunter in Victoria

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