It is not every day that a three term government MLA is challenged in a nomination contest in what is seen as a safe riding.

Dan Jarvis was first elected MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour in 1991. He ran as a true Liberal under then leader Gordon Wilson. A former realtor, Jarvis didn't distinguish himself in any particular sense until BC Ferries decided to buy three super-C class ferries from Germany. The German shipyard asked its workers to take a pay cut so as to be able to come in on budget for its bid. Jarvis, who for 13 years dutifully followed a partisan line, publicly criticized the decision to build the ships offshore.

Maybe it is a coincidence that first term North Vancouver school trustee Cindy Silver decided to challenge Jarvis for his nomination, or maybe she received encouragement from hawks in the Campbell camp who didn't appreciate Jarvis speaking his mind and representing his constituents. Under Paul Martin the federal liberals purged some MPs who failed to support his leadership bid, but it is rare to see a sitting MLA challenged for a nomination. Jarvis's nomination victory means that he will join Linda Reid as the only Liberals first elected in 1991 who will seek re-election in 2005. Val Anderson and Lynn Stephens were also first elected in 1991, but they made a decision not to run again in 2005.

Stephens joined Ted Nebbeling in speaking out against a shift to the right in the Campbell caucus. It is hard to believe that there is room to move to the "right" in view of the deep cuts to services and sale of public assets that have occurred over the past four years. Stephens is not happy with the candidacy of Mary Polak, who lost in the Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election only to announce that she was seeking the nomination to replace Stephens. In his defeat of Silver, Jarvis succeeded in heading off another challenge from what some see as the social conservative side of the Campbell alliance. Some might wonder how loyal Jarvis will be to Campbell after the anxiety he suffered over his nomination.