November 15, 2010 - 12:01 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
With former electeds like Chiavario, Cowie and Rogers, vcaTEAM had a respectable group of candidates back in 2002. The party's Achilles heal was the lack of a viable Mayoral candidate.
Back in 2002, I became involved with a group of municipal activists who had the the notion that the polarized politics of COPE and the NPA could use a dose of moederation, and as a result formed a new party named vcaTEAM.
The tried to take a middle of the road approach. They had established candidates (Nancy Chiavario and Alan Herbert was were both former NPA Councillors, Art Cowie was a former TEAM Councillor and Liberal MLA, and Stephen Rogers was a six-time Cabinet Minister and former Speaker of the House). They had a platform that spoke to many of the issues that are topical today (biking corridors, opening up the city to fun, adding social and affordable housing and a push to increase support for alternative forms of transportation other than the car).
At the time the NPA was in total disarray. Councillor Jennifer Clarke had organized a coup against popular former Mayor Philip Owen, and the party was divided down the middle as a result.
So it sounded like a recipe for potential success – the elements certainly were there.
And then the party introduced their Mayoral candidate very late in the game, and everything changed.
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September 24, 2010 - 9:58 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Not everyone within City Hall is up in arms about the internal change that is currently occurring, as some might have the public believe.
Frances Bula wrote a story about the changes that are going on at City Hall, which is fascinating enough in its account of how those within the Hall are reacting to the way in which things are being shaped by the Vision administration. But then there was this comment left at her blog, which I for one don’t find surprising in the least:
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July 6, 2010 - 8:40 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Tung Chan has become a hot political commodity in recent months.
For a man who the majority of Vancouverites have never heard of, Success CEO Tung Chan’s political appeal is at an all-time high.
On one end of the political spectrum, the federal Conservatives continue to make overtures to Chan about the possibility of running in Vancouver South against Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh, who as many readers are well aware, only won his seat last time around by 20 votes. That riding has close to a population that is close to 50 per cent Chinese, making Chan an ideal candidate with profile within the community that makes the difference on deciding a winner and a loser.
On the other is the moribund NPA, which from what I have been able to piece together, is getting desperate with regards to finding a sacrificial lamb to go against Mayor Gregor Robertson and his 70 per cent approval rating.
If indeed Chan is at all interested in politics, taking the Vancouver South offer seems like a no-brainer. Until of course you factor in the hectic and unforgiving travel schedule of a BC MP, and realize that the amount of individuals willing to make such a personal sacrifice are few and far between. Rumour is that Chan is not naturally inclined to be able to handle the Ottawa/Vancouver commute week in, week out.
This then leaves the option of running to become Mayor.
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April 14, 2010 - 9:15 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Tung Chan a potential NPA mayoral candidate? It could be an interesting political combination.
Tomorrow night is an NPA pub night, which if their last AGM was any indication, should once again pack the house.
And in preparation, the CityCaucus boys are already dressing up their favoured candidate for the Mayoral nomination (hopefully not in the same fashion that they dressed up the former Mayor Sam Sullivan, however).
Tung Chan is a solid community leader that has made a great impact in the city, including as a former City Councillor. His new challenge to to make the experience of immigrants to this region better and much better supported is vast and Chan is up to serving as SUCCESS’ CEO. Chan has also been one of the most active volunteers Vancouver non-profits have had the benefit of associating with. He is without a doubt one of the most interesting and intriguing choices for the NPA’s brass (they still do exist…I believe…) to consider as a Mayoral candidate recruit.
So why a man who is so well regarded would return to the NPA as its Mayoral candidate is beyond me. Furthermore, having listened to Chan speak many times over the years, I am hard pressed to see him take the dead weight of the NPA and carry it to the promised land (or the 3-4 seats that the CityCaucus boys say he can pull off).
But what I found funny was their suggestions of campaign themes for the NPA, particularly in consideration of their own record.
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