City on the Verge

Is Victoria on the verge of a nervous breakdown or the potential for greatness?

Election week dawns and, for many who call Victoria home, the jury is still out on which way they’ll be voting for mayor. And despite 35 candidates vying for the eight council seats—including five incumbents—making choices for city council is a bit easier. Yet despite what initially held the promise of an exciting race—a three-term mayor stepping down during a time of much-needed change—the run, such as it has been, has been anything but thrilling. Regardless of how you feel about our eight mayoral candidates, there’s clearly been no Obamas stepping up to the civic plate.

Faced with a whopping slate of 43 candidates—and that’s not even including school board—we decided to focus our attention on the three arguable leaders for mayor, since many people either don’t know much about them or can’t seem to make up their minds. (With apologies to the other five mayoral candidates, some of whom have ideas well worth considering, Victoria probably isn’t quite ready for your distinctive approach to politics.) And even though we had trouble coming to any kind of internal consensus, here are Monday’s endorsements for mayor and city council . . . for whatever they’re worth, given our own dismal record when it comes to picking the winners (see page 13 for more on that). Oh, and dedicated Taflerians will want to read “The Point” on page eight for Sid’s own endorsements.

For council:

• Sonya Chandler: A progressive voice, we endorsed Chandler in 2005. She works with street youth, has a first-hand understanding of issues, understands working with coalitions, voted against the police budget request for 60 more officers and changed her vote to speak out against the Supreme Court bylaw appeal.

• Rose Henry: We endorsed Henry in 2002 and 2005 and, if homelessness really is the issue du jour, she brings the voice of street experience and could really shake things up. Plus, as an indigenous woman, could she be the combination of Obama and Hillary Clinton?

• Phillipe Lucas: We endorsed Lucas before, in both 2002 and 2005, and we’ll likely keep doing it until this smart, passionate, socially aware harm-reductionist and family man gets in.

• John Luton: A longtime advocate of a green city, Luton stands for sustainability, is opposed to P3s, believes in cost-effective and sustainable sewage treatment, and is committed to making the city more cycling friendly.

• Pam Madoff: Another double-endorsee, Madoff brings a wealth of experience to the table, which will be needed if there’s a new slate of council members. But the real question is, will she stay on council long enough to become the new Helen Hughes?

• Robert Randall: As well as being chair of the Downtown Resident’s Association and a familiar face at council meetings, Randall is a working artist and, as such, would be a much-needed strong voice for the arts on council.

• Charlayne Thornton-Joe: She has long been dedicated to finding solutions to thorny downtown issues and, as the co-chair of the Coalition to End Homelessness, will maintain continuity and bring a voice of experience—and the majority of current councillors consider her to be the hardest-working member. (Plus, she’s married to the nicest BC Transit driver in the fleet.)

• Pieta VanDyke: In addition to being keen to restore the needle exchange and have more integrated transportation systems, this former councillor (1987-90) also helped initiate the Vic West Skate Park . . . but 18 years was a long time ago.

And for mayor . . .

• Steve Filipovic: Under normal circumstances, Dean Fortin’s combination of experience and social awareness would get Monday’s vote, but due to his handling, as Acting Mayor, of the recent Supreme Court ruling against the city, we’ve got to go with Filipovic. (Sorry, Dean.) Why? Read on.

-John Threlfall