If you supported the Greens in Vancouver this election, you could not vote for a full slate or even cast a ballot for a Green mayoral candidate.
For a Green Party supporter like Jemma Jacksen, that meant casting only seven votes or voting strategically to choose other candidates for city council, school and parks board.
“Majorities in democracies are a bad thing,” said Jacksen, an artist and cardiology technologist. “It’s time for a balance in council.”
The Greens did not realize the major breakthrough many supporters hoped for but did make historic gains by electing representatives to all three municipal bodies. Four of their seven candidates were elected and, on school board, Janet Fraser holds the swing vote.
Vision maintained a majority on council with six seats, while the NPA rose from two to three representatives. Green incumbent Adrianne Carr retained her seat with the largest margin of votes, 41 per cent of the support.
At the Green Party election night headquarters at Creekside community centre, voter Jacksen said she voted for NPA mayoral candidate Kirk LaPointe.
“I believe in Kirk LaPointe as mayor,” she said. “He believes keeping these condos open is wrong and they should go to people in Vancouver.”
Ned Jacobs, who formerly served on board for the Riley Park/South Cambie city plan also supported candidates from a diverse selection of parties.
“I’m hoping no party has a majority and we have a very constructive and creative, dynamically creative council that really gets the creative input from citizens,” said Jacobs, the son of celebrated urbanist Jane Jacobs.
For council he said he voted for all three Green candidates, three COPE candidates, three NPA candidates, and one Cedar party candidate.
“I voted for three NPA candidates — never thought I would — but they’ve come a long way,” said Jacobs, who helped to put together the Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver slate.
“I’m hoping for restoration of democracy, transparency, and accountability in Vancouver, which we’ve lost to special interests,” he said.
Terry Martin ran unsuccessfully for council with the Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver in 2011. This election the party endorsed the Green Party “primarily because the Greens have embraced our policies,” Martin said.
“They find community consultation very important and they take it very seriously. Adriane Carr showed that while on council.”
Svein Graaten voted only for the Green slate. “I feel like the Green Party represents social justice in the city,” said the common-law partner of Green candidate Mischa Oak who ran unsuccessfully for school board
“The fact that they don’t accept donations from developers, it’s a true democracy,” said Graaten. “Just having a mix, I think, is better than having a majority.”
