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Vancouver School Board byelection shaping up

Vision, Greens, OneCity and COPE announce candidates

The ballot for the upcoming school board election is starting to take shape.

On Thursday morning Vision Vancouver announced its slate of candidates, which includes former board chair Mike Lombardi and former trustee Allan Wong. Ken Clement, who was elected to the board in 2008 as the first-ever Aboriginal person elected in the city, is also running for the party along with Theodora Lamb, who is described as a community organizer with experience in engagement and digital advocacy, and Joy Alexander, a retired teacher and school psychologist.

The Green Party over the weekend announced its school board candidates. Former trustee Janet Fraser is perhaps the most recognizable of the three names rolled out Saturday. She is joined by first-time candidates Estrellita Gonzalez, a health and wellness consultant, and educator Judy Zaichkowsky.

OneCity announced its school board candidates Carrie Bercic and Erica Jaaf. COPE held its nomination meeting Tuesday, announcing Diana Day as the party’s candidate.

The party also announced its endorsement of independent council candidate Jean Swanson, a long-time social justice advocate.

The byelection will return a democratically-elected school board for the first time in a year, after the previous trustees were fired last October by then-Education Minister Mike Bernier. The board was replaced by appointed trustee Dianne Turner, who will remain on staff with the school board in an advisory role after the byelection.

The school board byelection will be held Saturday, Oct. 14 in conjunction with the byelection to replace former Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs, who now serves as Premier John Horgan’s chief of staff.

The NPA’s council hopefuls include former school trustee Penny Noble, Hector Bremner and Glen Chernen. The party hasn’t yet named its candidates for school board. NPA membership will vote on who will run on Sept. 6.

Transgender activist Jamie Lee Hamilton has also announced her candidacy for school board under the Independent Democratic Electors Alliance Banner.

Homeless advocate Judy Graves is running under the OneCity banner. And Pete Fry was earlier this month acclaimed as the Green Party candidate.

Cannabis advocate and former Wreck Beach staple Mary Jean Dunsdon  — known locally as “Watermelon” or “the Weed Diva” — is running for Sensible B.C.

Mayor Gregor Robertson is expected to announce Vision’s council candidate sometime next week.

With files from John Kurucz

@JessicaEKerr

jkerr@vancourier.com