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The announcement was unusual, coming as it did three full months before British Columbians were to cast their ballots in the election. Dix, then leading in the opinion polls, was accused of presuming too much.

But he saw it as a way to send a message that there would be no repeat of previous experiences with B.C. NDP governments, when the upper echelons of the bureaucracy were stuffed with appointees recruited for their previous service to NDP governments in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Yukon.

“Don Wright will lead a non-partisan public service,” Dix explained. “He was my No. 1 choice.”

Wright risked a lot to help the New Democrats provide that reassurance, resigning from his position as head of BCIT with, as he put it, “no plan B” as backup. And having climbed out on the limb with Dix, he fell to Earth when the polls proved to be as fickle as the fates.

Happily, given his reputation and resumé, Wright landed on his feet soon afterward with a posting as CEO of Central 1 Credit Union. This time, when the recruitment call came from the New Democrats, he waited until they had it in the bag to form government before going public with his resignation.

The New Democrats are counting on him to clean house of some bureaucrats who, in their view, were compromised politically during the B.C. Liberal years.

But having earned a second chance himself, Wright should also bring a fairness and generosity to vetting the senior appointees in the public service.

One thing to de-politicize the bureaucracy inherited from the B.C. Liberals. Quite another to re-politicize it in favour of the NDP.

Vpalmer@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/VaughnPalmer

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