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Nebbeling accepts Liberal nomination Saying he would be giving up the best job in B.C.

Nebbeling accepts Liberal nomination Saying he would be giving up the best job in B.C., Whistler Mayor Ted Nebbeling stepped into provincial politics Tuesday night as he was formally nominated and acclaimed as the Liberal's party's candidate for West Vancouver-Garibaldi. Nebbeling was nominated by Whistler councillor Thelma Johnstone in a meeting at the Furry Creek Golf and Country Club, becoming the first official B.C. Liberal candidate since the party lifted a freeze on new nominations following its September convention in Penticton. Nebbeling said a couple of incidents in 1992 convinced him to join the Liberal's under Gordon Campbell. Campbell's ability to unite 75 mayors to stand up to Victoria's efforts to download infrastructure costs was one incident. "Gordon Campbell did it not with threats but a common sense, team approach," Nebbeling said. "That common sense is the type of principle I stand for. In Victoria, community voices must be heard, not just given lip service." MLA Gary Farrell-Collins said the Liberals have a huge job to restore confidence in the province. He said there was a similar feeling in 1991 when voters dumped the Socreds in favour of the NDP. "British Columbians voted for change, and got more of the same," Farrell-Collins said. He predicted the NDP would balance the budget by the next election, but will do it through fancy bookkeeping and will increase the provincial debt at the same time. He said the Nanaimo Commonwealth Holding Society scandal will be the end of the NDP government. About 115 Liberal party members and several Liberal MLAs attended the meeting, including approximately 40 Whistler residents who battled a blizzard to get to Furry Creek.