What did Premier Campbell have to promise former CBC chair Carole Taylor in order to entice her to run provincially? Two potential candidates who had been working diligently to win the Liberal nomination in Vancouver-Langara were pushed out of the way in order to assure that Taylor's run for the nomination would be uncontested. The seat is one of the safest Liberal seats in the province; Val Anderson has held the seat since 1991. With 67% he won by a margin of almost 9,000 votes in 2001, up from 60% in 1996.

Taylor's resume on the CBC website makes her look over-qualified for cabinet. She could pose problems for Campbell if she becomes disillusioned with the centralization of power in the Premier's office and the limited decision making role of an individual minister. She could be even more disappointed if the voters decide that it is time to give Carole James a chance as Premier. Going from Chair of the CBC to life as an opposition critic is something that every "star" recruit needs to consider.

The recruitment of star candidates is likely to be chilling for aspiring backbenchers. Every "star" puts those who have served for a term or two another step farther down the line for a shot at a cabinet position. It would be one thing if high profile candidates were being recruited to run in ridings where the Campbell Liberals are facing tough challenges from the NDP, but virtually appointing such candidates to safe seats is a vote of non-confidence in the backbench. The Campbell farm team has to wonder what they get out of Taylor's appointment other than ridicule from their opponents that they aren't good enough for the plum that the Premier promised his new recruit.