Premier hires new political adviser
Strategist Chris Gardner takes over post vacant since before 2013 vote
VICTORIA — Premier Christy Clark hired a new senior political adviser and shuffled some of her staff Thursday.
Chris Gardner, a veteran political strategist with deep ties to Surrey and former finance minister Kevin Falcon, was appointed Clark’s new principal secretary.
That job, which focuses on managing the political implications of the premier’s policies, has been vacant since before the 2013 provincial election when Mike McDonald left to become Liberal party campaign director.
“His appointment fills a vacancy in our senior leadership team and builds greater capabilities to strengthen our working relationships with stakeholders throughout our province,” wrote Dan Doyle, Clark’s chief of staff, in an internal email Thursday.
His appointment fills a vacancy in our senior leadership team.
DAN DOYLE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR PREMIER CHRISTY CLARK
Gardner’s ties in Surrey go back to when he helped Falcon form the once- dominant Surrey Electors Team in 1990, and then later directing mayoral campaigns for Doug McCallum and most recently Dianne Watts.
He also ran provincial election campaigns for Liberal MLA Mary Polak, who is now B. C.’ s Environment Minister.
Gardner served as Surrey’s manager of investment and intergovernmental relations before becoming executive vice- president of Britco, a modular construction company. He’s also sat on the board of directors for BC Ferries and the Fraser Health Authority.
His salary in the premier’s office is expected to be $ 175,000 annually.
The new appointment coincides with a shuffle of the premier’s staff.
Shane Mills, who served as issues management manager for Clark, moved to the B. C. Liberal caucus as executive director of caucus communications and research.
Emile Scheffel, the B. C. Liberal Party communications manager, moved to the premier’s communications department to work under promoted manager Maclean Kay.
Clark tapped Justice Minister Suzanne Anton’s chief of staff, Evan Southern, as her new issues management manager.
The move shuffled several other ministerial employees and managers within the premier’s office.
However, Clark did not change her chief of staff, deputy minister John Dyble, or communications and issues management director, Ben Chin.