Gregor Robertson accepts the Vision Vancouver nomination to run for mayor of Vancouver Sunday evening. (CBC)

Vision Vancouver has nominated Gregor Robertson, an NDP member of the British Columbia legislature, as the party's candidate for mayor in the civic election this November.

Robertson, who owns an organic-fruit-juice business, beat Coun. Raymond Louie and Allan de Genova, a commissioner with the Vancouver Park Board, at the party nomination meeting Sunday evening.

More than 6,000 people showed up to vote at Vision Vancouver's mayoral nomination. And after long delays in the vote count, caused by the number of votes that were examined by scrutineers before being counted, Robertson was declared the winner.

During his acceptance speech Robertson said he will focus his campaign on the issues of affordable housing and making Vancouver a more environmentally friendly city.

On Monday morning, Robertson said in an interview on CBC Radio that one way of tackling the housing problem might be to make the owners of Vancouver's 18,000 vacant condo units pay business property taxes, rather than residential property taxes. That would encourage them to rent the units, thereby increasing the number of rental units available in the city, he said.

Robertson was also critical of the increasing level of homelessness in Vancouver and said the city should set a goal of ending homelessness in the next decade.

The NDP MLA also promised to try to work with Vision's rival civic party, COPE, to unify left-wing civic politicians under a single political banner in time for the upcoming election.

Eight days ago, Vancouver city Councillor Peter Ladner upset Mayor Sam Sullivan to become the Non-Partisan Association's mayoral pick.

Robertson appealed to his opponent, Ladner, to run a clean campaign.

"I want a real discussion about the issues facing our city. And I hope Councillor Ladner does too," said Robertson.

Ladner issued a statement expressing the same desire.

MLA may not step down

Robertson said he had yet to decide whether he will step down from his position as MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, but said it may be possible to run an election campaign and be an MLA, since the legislature is not likely to sit this fall.

Newly selected Vision Vancouver mayoral candidate Gregor Robertson speaks to CBC Radio Monday morning in Vancouver. (Mike Laanela/CBC)

"Looks like we may not have a fall session, so I may not be in Victoria much, if at all, over the coming five months," said Robertson.

The final decision will be made during the next couple of weeks, after he talks with NDP leader Carole James, Robertson said.

Second place Councillor Raymond Louie introduced Robertson after his win Sunday night, pledging to support the new leader in the coming civic campaign.

Coming in third place was veteran civic politician Allan De Genova, who was not present when the winner was announced.

Robertson entered politics for the first time during the 2005 provincial elections. He is the co-founder of Happy Planet juice company.