Voter turnout in the 2011 Vancouver civic election was 34 per cent.
Photograph by: Dan Toulgoet , Vancouver Courier
And I thought Vancouver voters didn't care enough about local politics to drag themselves out to vote in a civic election.
The good people of Los Angeles, or Angelenos, apparently care less about exercising their franchise than we do in this world-class city of ours.
I was surprised to read in a recent New York Times' article that only 21 per cent of registered voters in Los Angeles turned out March 5 to vote in what they call the "mayoral primary."
Back in November 2011, Vancouver saw 34 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot that resulted in the re-election of Mayor Gregor Robertson and his Vision Vancouver team - at council, school board and park board.
Interestingly, the mayoral race in Los Angeles did not include an incumbent, which sometimes causes voters to stay home because they think the man/woman in the big chair is doing a good job.
This time around, Los Angeles city controller Wendy Greuel and city councillor Eric Garcetti were the favourites. Turns out, neither won more than 50 per cent of the vote, so they will meet in a run-off in May.
The winner will replace Antonio R. Villaraigosa.
Unlike Vancouver, where balanced budgets are the norm, Los Angeles is reportedly facing a budget deficit set to top $1 billion over the next four years. Not even that financial mess could get more Angelenos to the polls.
Vancouver's next civic election isn't until the fall of 2014. But the results of the May 14 provincial election could have a big effect on the 2014 civic campaign.
City council has pushed for years for electoral reform and has waited for the provincial government to amend municipal laws to bring in changes such as banning corporate and union donations and setting spending limits.
So far, the Liberals haven't budged on this. It's unclear what the NDP will do.
And last time I checked, the city's major political parties have not entered into any handshake deals to stop running these multimillion dollar campaigns that discourage independents from seeking office.
No doubt, electoral reform is a big issue.
But Vancouverites would also probably like to know where the NDP and the Liberals stand on regional policing, a $2.8 billion subway from Commercial Drive to UBC and how much they will buck up for more social housing in the city.
Child poverty is another issue that comes to mind.
Clear answers on all topics just might drive more people to the civic and provincial polls. Did I just write "clear answers" from a politician?
Sorry about that.
I should know better.
Trivia time
Name the three former city politicians now vying for provincial seats.
Easy one.
Yes, former NPA mayor Sam Sullivan (Vancouver-False Creek), former Vision city councillor George Chow (Vancouver-Langara) and former NPA city councillor Suzanne Anton (Vancouver-Fraserview).
At one time, all three served on the same council. We'll find out May 14 whether the trio will be in Victoria together.
twitter.com/Howellings
