Vision Vancouver announced Wednesday the pool potential council candidates party members will choose from next month.
“We are very excited about the diverse, talented team stepping forward to run with Vision Vancouver this October,” party co-chair Michael Haack said in a press release. “With Ian Campbell as our Mayoral candidate, we are presenting a new Vision team to Vancouver voters — a team that will put forward new ideas for a progressive agenda this fall.”
Party members will choose from eight potential candidates to fill the four available spots on the Vision slate, joining Coun. Heather Deal, the lone Vision incumbent running for re-election in October.
Earlier this month, the party announced it would run five council candidates, three for school board and two for park board after signing onto an agreement with the Vancouver and District Labour Council.
Long-time Coun. Raymond Louie announced last week that he will not seek another term on council.
The nominees include:
Diego Cardona, Vision’s candidate in the 2017 by-election, a social justice activist who has worked with a variety of organizations, including Fresh Voices, which aims to make B.C. and Canada a better place for young immigrants and refugees. Most recently he was programs co-ordinator at Kiwassa Neighbourhood House.
Current school board trustee Ken Clement, who is the Vancouver’s first-ever Aboriginal school trustee and the CEO of the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network.
Coco Culbertson, who has worked in harm reduction and has been a community leader in the Downtown Eastside for more than 15 years and is a senior manager at the Portland Hotel Society.
Catherine Evans, current park board commissioner and former Vancouver library board chair, business owner and lawyer, who is passionate about equality, the environment and inclusive, accessible public spaces.
Tanya Paz, a leader in active transportation, car sharing, sustainability and community planning. She advocates for safer streets, better transit and building the city’s green economy.
Michael Samson is a successful business leader and founder of Ripple Effect Society, a non-profit organization, and founder and president of Inspire Canada.
Margot Sangster, an experienced public health professional currently working in residential addictions treatment and previously worked with Vancouver Coastal Health programs in cross-cultural mental health and criminal justice diversion.
Wei Qiao Zhang, a former athlete, talk show host and speaking English and Mandarin, who has worked as a constituency assistant to Vancouver-Kingsway NDP MP Don Davies. Zhang launched his nomination campaign earlier this month.
Campbell, a Squamish Nation hereditary chief, was acclaimed as the party’s mayoral candidate earlier this month after his only competition, Taleeb Noormohamed, pulled out of the leadership race after suffering a “sudden cardiac event.”
The party’s nomination meeting is set for Sunday, July 8 at Creekside Community Centre.
@JessicaEKerr
jkerr@vancourier.com
