Liberal leadership hopefuls pitch under-40s

About 1,000 people attended the gathering, billed as the first face-to-face encounter of the candidates in what has so far been a race with few sparks.

The meeting was aimed at attracting the Lower Mainland's under-40 set, and most attending appeared to fall into that demographic.

They were urged by Christy Clark and Mike de Jong to take out a Liberal membership, a $10 expenditure that's good for four years.

De Jong issued the most partisan rallying cry of the evening, aimed at stirring anti-NDP sentiment.

"Are we entrepreneurs in this room?" he asked enthusiastically. "You better believe we are."

De Jong said a Liberal membership is the best way to fight the New Democrats who he said want to raise income taxes and the corporate capital tax, both moves likely unpopular among those in attendance.

Clark said she welcomed the informal structure of the event, which gave each candidate a chance to deliver a speech, then to mingle with the crowd.

"I'm talking a lot about listening in this campaign. I want to listen to you."

She also told them she's an ardent supporter of the green economy.

"It will unleash billions of dollars of investment," she said.

Voting incentive proposed

Long-shot leadership candidate Ed Mayne, the former mayor of Parksville and a virtual political unknown said he plans to run an old-fashioned campaign that focuses on meeting people personally and not through recorded phone calls.

Mayne said he will pitch a $100 tax credit to every British Columbian who votes in an election. The tax credit is aimed at increasing the province's low voter turnout, which has been hovering near 50 per cent.

Outside of the meeting, harmonized sales tax protesters greeted people with jeers and chants of "Don't vote for B.C. Liberal lies" and "Recall, Recall."

One person wore an elaborate bird-like headdress, and called herself King Falcon, to mock leadership candidate Kevin Falcon.

Also running for Liberal leader are former cabinet ministers Moira Stilwell and longtime-Liberal cabinet minister George Abbott, who was campaigning in Prince George and could not attend personally.

The Liberals will vote Feb. 26 for thenew leader, who within days willbe sworn in as premier.