Vancouver-Fairview MLA Gregor Robertson's decision to run for mayor of Vancouver has resulted in a sudden seating shuffle in the B.C. legislature.

The NDP's star candidate in 2005 election for his entrepreneurial credentials as founder of the Happy Planet juice company, Robertson announced on Sunday he will seek the Vision Vancouver nomination to run against Mayor Sam Sullivan.

On Monday his usual seat behind NDP leader Carole James was occupied by Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald, a significant switch in that the people around the leader are carefully selected to appear in the TV shot with the leader. The "Juice Man," as B.C. Liberal chief heckler Kevin Krueger calls Robertson, was shuffled down the row a few spaces.

"I think it's really important that there not be any perception that I'm getting involved in the race," James said Monday. "We're involved in provincial politics here and I felt it was important to move Gregor so that there would not be any perception."

James said she has talked with Robertson about his much-anticipated decision, which she called "the worst-kept secret this weekend." (Perhaps she was reflecting on her own apparent slip-up, in which she scooped Robertson's announcement by confirming his run for mayor an interview with the Globe and Mail on Friday.)

James said Robertson will continue as an MLA at least until the Vision Vancouver nomination meeting, but his duties as small business critic have been transferred to Surrey MLA Jagrup Brar, the NDP critic for employment and income assistance.

James refused to comment on whether Robertson will continue as an MLA if he wins the nomination and starts to devote more time to city politics, saying only they would "have a conversation" after the Vision Vancouver vote.

As usual, a festive atmosphere is forming around the Vancouver mayoralty, which typically features dozens of candidates from serious political rivals to a granola-like collection of flakes and nuts.

Robertson is up against long-time park commissioner Allan de Genova and likely councillor Raymond Louie for the Vision nomination, while on the ruling NPA side, councillor Peter Ladner is challenging Sullivan for that party's nomination.