For those of you still looking for guidance in how to vote, here’s a round-up of endorsements and/or information bulletins that I’ve been sent by various groups or that I’ve run across. (Please feel free to add your own in the comments.)
Fair Tax Coalition: Sent out a message to its members noting who was in favour of continuing a tax shift from business to residential for the next three years. Vision has said it is only in favour of continuing the tax shift for one more year and then re-assessing. Those in favour of the three-year shift, according to the tax coalition were: All of the NPA council team and Adriane Carr, along with three independents.
Vancouver and District Labour Council: The straight Vision/COPE slate.
Firefighters: As reported previously, mostly Vision/COPE (see previous posts) except for the Green Party’s Adriane Carr and NPA’s Sean Bickerton.
Green Party of B.C.: President Jane Sterk said the party is endorsing only the three Green Party candidates (one each at council, school board and parks). Her comment about former Green Party president Christopher Ian Bennett endorsing NPA’er Suzanne Anton is that Bennett only trots out his Green Party credentials, a six-month stint that he quickly dropped, when he is endorsing B.C. Liberals. Mr. Bennett also endorsed NPA mayoral candidate Sam Sullivan in 2005.
Citycaucus.com. The three-year-old political blog that has been mostly focused on anti-Vision coverage (with very occasional NPA critiques) but also comments on the region from time to time. It has the most comprehensive list of anyone, only rivalled by the Canadian Union of Public Employees in its geographic coverage. Vancouver recommendation’s are mostly NPA, with two Vision (Tim Stevenson and Heather Deal) and Green Party Adriane Carr, who’s scoring a lot of endorsements from the right in this election.
The Mainlander: An online publication that I would define as the intellectual clearing house for the Beyond New Left of Vancouver, which includes those who represent a hardcore element at Occupy Vancouver and who dismiss parties like Vision Vancouver as little different from the Non-Partisan Association. Their ratings are here.
Mainstream media: Vancouver Sun did not endorse anyone. Globe endorsed Vision Vancouver’s Gregor Robertson, but said council needs a stronger opposition.
The Georgia Straight: Here. Lengthy explanations that I can’t summarize easily, but Robertson for mayor, with a mix of COPE, Vision, NPA, NSV, and independent.
Michael Geller: Former NPA council candidate and political commentator, here. Also a mix, including Geoff Meggs from Vision, Sean Bickerton and Mike Klassen from the NPA, and independent Sandy Garossino.
Finally , Tony Tang (running with Vision and whom I inadvertently left off my list today as someone to consider because of his years of community and work with the party) got this particularly lovely endorsement from his Kerrisdale neighbour Bob McGilvray: