November 22, 1999
Vancouver Votes: Epilogue - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER - Well, David Cadman didn’t unseat Philip Owen as this town’s mayor, but it was a joust that was well done, on Cadman’s part. His tough-talking demeanour tried it’s best, and he put up a respectable showing.
Voter turnout was relatively low, and that was sad. Democracy cannot work if only a small number of people practice it. I was at my local polling booth on Saturday afternoon and I noticed that the people generally voting, were folks who didn’t look like they gave a damn. They looked like they were dragged there by the fact it was another excuse to not rake the leaves in the driveway.
The council slate is mainly NPAers, 8 to be exact, but having two COPE councillors is a most fresh result in this town. I was actually, surprised by Fred Bass and Tim Louis making it, but happy for them nonetheless. Their presence will make council a fairer place for the next three years. Nancy Chiavario’s performance was impressive compared to Alan Herbert’s. Herbert went it alone after being dumped by the NPA, and unlike Chiavario who got COPE/Green’s endorsement, managed to get number 11, but what is most noticeable is that COPE has made an impressive showing. If it means that COPE is getting votes, then the BC NDP’s chances are good. The provincial government’s crap didn’t make it’s way to the vote here, and considering COPE’s dismal performance in 1996, it looks good for the NDP, in Vancouver at least.
Parks board remained an NPA dominated board, they claimed 6 of the 7 seats. While Roslyn Cassells, an independent I think, took a seat after dumping her affiliation to COPE/Green. School board was an interesting race, because major unions said that they would drive the NPA dominated board out of office. Well, they got 3 out of 9, and that’s not a bad showing. Having Adrienne Montani on board signals some ray of change. Let’s hope.
Looking at the Burnaby race, I was surprised that incumbent Doug Drummond retained the mayor’s seat, as well as the council’s majority staying with their party. They’re regarded as Burnaby’s NDP connection.
Glad to see my favourite councillor George Puil is re-elected, as Rafe said on Friday, “A council without Puil is like having the gin without the tonic.” A vote in Vancouver without re-electing and re-embracing the status quo, is like the gin without the tonic too. Vancouver spoke, and although mildly, it was democracy at it’s very finest.
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