1993 Vancouver municipal election

Last updated

1993 Vancouver municipal election
Flag placeholder.svg
  1990 November 21, 1993 1996  
Mayoral election
  Philip Owen.jpg Libby Davies.jpg
Candidate Philip Owen Libby Davies
Party NPA COPE
Popular vote46,68737,812
Percentage-

Mayor before election

Gordon Campbell
NPA

Elected Mayor

Philip Owen
NPA

Other elections
PartyLeader%Seats+/–
City Council (10 seats)
NPA 9+4
COPE 1−4
Park Board (7 seats)
NPA 5+1
COPE 20
School Board (9 seats)
NPA 7+2
COPE 20
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

The 1993 Vancouver municipal election was held on November 21, 1993, the same day as other municipalities and regional districts in British Columbia selected their new municipal governments. Voters elected a mayor, 10 city councillors, 7 park board commissioners, and 9 school board trustees through plurality-at-large voting.

Contents

Candidates and results

Parties

Four parties fielded candidates for election in the 1993 election.

PartyLeader Political position Notes
Civic Association of Independent Reformers (CAIR)Rod Raglin Reform, Centre-Right Focused on opposition to the party system, promotion of a ward-based electoral system, imposing term-limits, and supporting "independent minded" candidates. [1]
Coalition of Progressive ElectorsLibby Davies Left Created from a merger between the Civic NDP and Committee of Progressive Electors. Branded in this election as "COPE '93".
Green Party of VancouverCentre-left, green politics
Non-Partisan AssociationPhilip Owen Centre-right

Mayor

Bob Seeman, a 30-year-old lawyer, was the first major candidate to announce a bid for the office of mayor, and began campaigning in August. Characterized in the media as following in the footsteps of Ross Perot, Seeman described himself as "fiscally right wing" and "environmentally left wing". [2] Seeman noted in a Vancouver Sun op-ed that he was concerned about the merger of COPE and the Civic New Democrats, accusing politicians of being bought by "unions and big business", and praising the upstart National and Reform parties. [3] Near the end of the campaign, Seeman "crashed" a debate held by the CBC at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre between Owen and Davies, taking the stage and demanding to be included. This was met with boos from the audience, to which Seeman responded by asking all those who wished him to leave to raise their hands. The crowd overwhelmingly supported his exclusion, to which Seeman responded with, "Thank you for treating me a second-class candidate," while being heckled by the audience. [2]

In mid-August, the NPA board and councillors announced they had rallied around three-term councillor Philip Owen to succeed outgoing mayor Gordon Campbell. [4] Owen had extensive political experience, running for council in 1976, 1980, 1982, and 1984, as well as standing unsuccessfully as a provincial Social Credit candidate in 1983 and serving on the Vancouver Parks Board from 1978 to 1980. [5] Owen, a member of an evangelical congregation within the Anglican Church of Canada, came under fire for his nods to voters on the Christian right, such as indicating he drew inspiration from Chuck Colson and for lengthy profiles in right-wing Christian publications. [6] Lauded for his transparency and commitment to accountability, Owen's campaign focused on supporting business and opposing property tax increases and excessive spending on the part of the civic government. [5]

In the wake of the Civic NDP and Committee of Progressive Electors merger, the new Coalition of Progressive Electors nominated five-term councillor Libby Davies for the mayor's chair. Davies had ruminated on a potential run for months and announced her intentions in early September. [7] Criticized in the media for a lack of charisma, even Davies' opponents noted her down-to-earth likeability and her knowledgeable nature. Davies' campaign focused on creating ward boundaries, a more regional focus for planning and transportation issues, and a desire to fix what she saw as Vancouver's looming housing crisis. [8]

An independent candidate, Angus Macdonald, ran to show that anyone could participate in the electoral process and advocate for their community.

1993 Vancouver municipal election : Vancouver mayor
PartyCandidateVotes%Elected
NPA Philip Owen 46,687Green check.svgY
COPE Libby Davies 37,812
Independent Bob Seeman4,834
Independent Jonathan Himsworth683
Independent Stu Campbell581
Independent The Captain403
Independent Angus Ian Macdonald317
Independent Brian G. Salmi259
Independent Shane McCune234
Independent Sandy Beach207
Independent Helder J. Fernandes157
Independent Jeremy Price148
Independent Marion Drakos148
Independent Terry K. Dunne147
Independent Matthew A. Martin111
Independent Wretched Ethyl110
Independent Arne Hansen109
Independent Ari Benbasat109
Independent Mike Chivilo102
Independent Rojer Streets43
Independent Jonathan Hagey41
Independent Sean Veley35
Independent Evan Ozirny33

City councillors

1993 Vancouver municipal election : Vancouver City Council
PartyCandidateVotes%Elected
NPA Lynne Kennedy (Incumbent)44,542Green check.svgY
NPA Don Bellamy (Incumbent)42,281Green check.svgY
NPA Gordon H. Price (Incumbent)41,982Green check.svgY
NPA George J. Puil (Incumbent)41,970Green check.svgY
NPA Maggie Ip39,409Green check.svgY
NPA Jennifer Clarke39,377Green check.svgY
NPA Sam Sullivan 35,770Green check.svgY
NPA Nancy Chiavario35,214Green check.svgY
NPA Craig Hemer33,954Green check.svgY
COPE Jenny Kwan 32,150Green check.svgY
COPE Merrilee Robson30,502
COPE Ragini Rankin28,409
COPE Ken Walker26,708
COPE Mel Lehan26,539
COPE Jim O'Dea26,480
COPE Maita Santiago26,018
COPE Frances Wasserlein25,830
COPE Sadie Kuehn25,781
NPA Daljit Sidhu24,066
COPE Hardev S. Bal21,302
Independent Anne Beer18,559
Independent Graham Leslie11,100
Green Andy Telfer10,668
Green Jacqui Underwood10,130
CAIRRod Raglin9,143
Independent Vincent Wong8,161
CAIRDavid J. Gardiner7,761
Independent Tom Tsang6,863
CAIRFrank Battista5,425
CAIRJohn H. Jeffery5,326
Independent Alan Clapp5,176
Independent Tim Shen4,593
CAIRRichard Nantel4,508
Independent John Taylor4,373
Independent Richard Wood4,090
Independent Elisa Lay3,663
Independent Kent Lindsay3,660
Independent Joan Rowntree3,400
Independent Don West3,153
Independent Cowboy Ellis3,138
Independent Dan Doherty3,008
Independent Kentish Steele2,754
Independent James "Kickback" Faraday2,176
Independent Kenneth S. Doughie1,680
Independent Phil Dureau1,504
Independent Saga D. Gounder721

Party standings in City Council

PartySeats on City Council
NPA
9 / 10
COPE
1 / 10

Park Board commissioners

Top 7 candidates elected

2018 Vancouver municipal election : Vancouver Park Board
PartyCandidateVotes%Elected
NPA Malcolm Ashford (Incumbent)37,146Green check.svgY
COPE Tim Louis (Incumbent)35,092Green check.svgY
NPA Duncan Wilson33,615Green check.svgY
NPA Allan De Genova33,314Green check.svgY
NPA David Chesman33,258Green check.svgY
NPA Alan Fetherstonhaugh31,705Green check.svgY
COPE Donna Morgan30,130Green check.svgY
COPE Cindy Ladner29,846
NPA Rolly Scov29,437
COPE Dermot Foley (Incumbent)28,243
Independent Anita Romaniuk27,171
Independent Fred Jay26,416
NPA Kewal Pabla25,885
COPE Babu Bansal19,913
Independent Susan Lee14,609
Green Bob Chorush12,029
Independent Nicole Kohnert11,970
Independent Dick Seaton7,298
CAIRStan Bennett7,170
Independent Helen Dunbar7,019
Independent Wesley Jang6,269
Independent David Atherton5,892
Independent Doug Harris5,560
Independent David Stewart5,018
CAIRHarvey Pudwell4,948
Independent Eleanor Hadley4,088
Independent Judith Hodgins2,678
Independent Robert Blackwell2,671
Independent Michael Robson2,631
Independent Gregg Simpson2,566
Independent Gary Crane2,560
Independent James Petrie2,338
Independent David Moir1,898
Independent Daniel Burns1,854
Independent David Ferreira1,785
Independent Michael Tusa1,774
Independent Walter Einarson1,516
Independent Larry Muscatt1,419
Independent Adam Barbolet1,399
Independent Jeremy Bramwell1,356
Independent Doug Bjorkman1,054

Party standings in Park Board

PartySeats on Park Board
NPA
5 / 7
COPE
2 / 7

School Board trustees

Top 9 candidates elected

1993 Vancouver municipal election : Vancouver School Board
PartyCandidateVotes%Elected
NPA Sandy McCormick41,802Green check.svgY
NPA Ken Denike (Incumbent)41,419Green check.svgY
NPA Carol McRae40,283Green check.svgY
NPA John Cheng (Incumbent)38,650Green check.svgY
NPA Ted Hunt37,438Green check.svgY
NPA Bill Brown36,992Green check.svgY
NPA John Robertson34,297Green check.svgY
COPE Yvonne Brown33,307Green check.svgY
COPE Anne Roberts32,202Green check.svgY
COPE Eileen Wong31,543
NPA Laurie Throness31,535
COPE Philip Yung31,143
COPE Gary Onstad (Incumbent)30,831
COPE Ruth Herman (Incumbent)30,763
NPA Iqbal Sara26,950
COPE Paul Gill26,942
COPE Eduardo Aragon26,462
COPE Alayne Keough25,876
Independent Jean McCutcheon14,167
Independent Paul Alexander10,388
Independent Dawn Henderson8,658
Independent Richard Kwan8,290
Independent David Green7,618
Independent Steve Hopkins6,152
Independent Doug Ragan6,018
Independent Marietta Einarson4,755
Independent Aaron Edwards4,278
Independent Michael Savage4,234

Party standings in School Board

PartySeats on School Board
NPA
7 / 9
COPE
2 / 9

Related Research Articles

The Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) is a municipal political party in the Canadian city of Vancouver, British Columbia. It has traditionally been associated with tenants, environmentalists, and the labour movement. COPE is generally guided by democratic socialist principles following the split of its social democratic wing in 2014 to form OneCity Vancouver, and has a long history of advocating for issues such as improving public transit and investing in affordable housing. It last held a majority government on city council from 2002 to 2005. COPE describes itself as being committed to renter protections, ending homelessness, taxing the rich to build social housing, safe supply, free transit, Indigenous reconciliation, climate action, and other social and environmental reforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libby Davies</span> Canadian politician

Libby Davies is a Canadian politician from British Columbia. She was the member of Parliament for Vancouver East from 1997 to 2015, House Leader for the New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2003 to 2011, and Deputy Leader of the party from 2007 until 2015. Prior to entering federal politics, Davies helped found the Downtown Eastside Residents Association and served as a Vancouver city councillor from 1982 to 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Non-Partisan Association</span> Municipal political party in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The Non-Partisan Association (NPA) is a municipal political party in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was established by the city's business leaders in 1937 to challenge the democratic socialist Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in that year's municipal election. The party has historically been described as centre-right and drawn its strongest support from Vancouver's business community.

The Electors' Action Movement (TEAM) was a centrist political party from 1968 to the mid-1980s at the municipal level in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It fielded candidates for the office of mayor as well as for positions on the City Council, School Board, and Park Board. It was most successful in the 1970s when it held the majority of council seats from 1972 to 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Sullivan</span> Canadian politician, Mayor of Vancouver

Sam Sullivan is a Canadian politician who served as the MLA for Vancouver-False Creek. Previously, he served as the Minister of Communities, Sport, and Cultural Development with responsibility for Translink in the short-lived BC Liberal government after the 2017 election, as well as the 38th mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and has been invested as a member of the Order of Canada. He is currently President of the Global Civic Policy Society and an adjunct professor at the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Green (Canadian politician)</span> Draft evader and politician

Jim Green was an American-Canadian who was a longshoreman, taxicab driver, community activist, non-profit housing developer, municipal politician, university instructor and development consultant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vision Vancouver</span> Political party in Canada

Vision Vancouver is a green liberal municipal political party in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vision was formed in the months leading up to the 2005 municipal election.

Vancouver, unlike other British Columbia municipalities, is incorporated under a unique provincial statute, the Vancouver Charter. The legislation, passed in 1953, supersedes the Vancouver Incorporation Act, 1921 and grants the city more and different powers than other communities possess under BC's Municipalities Act.

The Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) swept the 2002 Vancouver municipal election, winning 8 of 10 Council seats, 7 of 9 School Board seats and 5 of 7 Park Board seats. The Non-Partisan Association (NPA) was reduced to 2 Council seats, 1 School Board seat and 2 Park Board seats. The Green Party of Vancouver won 1 School Board seat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Vancouver municipal election</span>

The 2008 Vancouver municipal election was held on November 15, 2008, filling seats on the Vancouver School Board, the Park Board, the Vancouver City Council, and the position of Mayor of Vancouver. It was held at the same time as municipal elections throughout the province. Three major civic parties were represented: the Coalition of Progressive Electors, the Non-Partisan Association, and Vision Vancouver. The Green Party of Vancouver fielded one candidate for Park Board commissioner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Vancouver municipal election</span>

The City of Vancouver held a municipal election on November 19, 2011, along with other municipalities and regional districts in British Columbia. All local government elections were for a three-year period. The ballot elected one mayor, 10 councillors, nine school board trustees and seven park board commissioners. A $180 million capital borrowing plan was also put to a vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Vancouver municipal election</span> Municipal election in British Columbia, Canada

The 2014 Vancouver municipal election took place on November 15, 2014, the same day as other municipalities and regional districts in British Columbia selected their new municipal governments. As with previous elections, voters elected one mayor, 10 councillors, nine school board trustees, and seven park board commissioners through plurality-at-large voting. Voters also voted on whether to approve a capital budget.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Vancouver municipal by-election</span>

A municipal by-election was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on October 14, 2017. One empty seat on city council and all the seats on the Vancouver school board were filled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progress Vancouver</span> Political party in Canada

Progress Vancouver was a municipal political party in Vancouver, British Columbia, created in June 2018 to support the candidacy of Hector Bremner for mayor. Known as Yes Vancouver until October 2021, the party was the first municipal political party in British Columbia that stated their explicit dedication to YIMBY principles. The party was deregistered by Elections BC in July 2023.

The city of Vancouver, Canada, held municipal elections on November 17, 1990. Canadian citizens who were over 18 years of age at the time of the vote, and had been a resident of Vancouver for the previous 30 days and a resident of B.C. for the previous six months, were able to vote for candidates in four races that were presented on one ballot. In addition, Canadian citizen non-resident property owners were eligible to vote. For the first time, the City used Provincial Voters List as basis for City's List of Electors. 133,107 out of 257,352 voters cast ballots for a turnout of 52%.

Colleen Hardwick is a Canadian politician and film-maker in Vancouver, British Columbia, who served on Vancouver City Council from 2018 to 2022. Hardwick is the daughter of former Vancouver alderman Walter Hardwick, and granddaughter of former Vancouver park commissioner Iris Hardwick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Vancouver municipal election</span> Vancouver municipal election

The 2022 Vancouver municipal election was held on October 15, 2022, the same day as the municipal elections held throughout British Columbia. Voters elected the mayor of Vancouver by first-past-the-post. Ten city councillors, 7 park board commissioners, and 9 school board trustees were elected through plurality at-large voting. In addition, voters were presented with 3 capital plan questions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABC Vancouver</span> Municipal political party in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

ABC Vancouver is a municipal political party in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is led by incumbent mayor Ken Sim.

Rebecca Bligh is a Canadian politician, who was elected to Vancouver City Council in the 2018 Vancouver municipal election.

References

  1. Lee, Jeff (January 5, 1993). "Independent candidates' party seeks introduction of ward system". Vancouver Sun . LexisNexis.
  2. 1 2 Aird, Elizabeth (November 6, 1993). "As a mayoral candidate, Seeman lacks basics". Vancouver Sun . LexisNexis.
  3. Seeman, Bob (September 8, 1993). "Independent candidates offer a new way". Vancouver Sun . LexisNexis.
  4. Lee, Jeff (August 10, 1993). "NPA to give nod to Owen in bid for mayor's office". Vancouver Sun . LexisNexis.
  5. 1 2 Lee, Jeff (November 17, 1993). "One tinkerer who gives a damn for his integrity: Mr. Fixit sees city as broke, not broken". Vancouver Sun . LexisNexis.
  6. "Vancouver candidate explains low-key approach to religion". Vancouver Sun . LexisNexis. November 16, 1993.
  7. Lee, Jeff (September 16, 1993). "Libby Davies to run for mayor: Development will be top issue, she says". Vancouver Sun . LexisNexis.
  8. Stainsby, Mia (September 18, 1993). "NEXT STOP: mayor's office?: Libby Davies is not a typical Vancouver mayoral candidate, which may be a major asset". Vancouver Sun . LexisNexis.