Although union donations are banned in this election year, labour organizations are still throwing their weight behind several Tri-City civic and school board candidates in the Oct. 20 race.
The New Westminster and District Labour Council released its list last Saturday of its 98 endorsed contenders in Metro Vancouver, including 27 in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.
“The diversity of candidates ensures our councils and school boards are reflective of the people they represent,” NWDLC secretary-treasurer Janet Andrews stated in a news release. “We seek to endorse candidates who share our values, who will be inclusive, thoughtful, outspoken and compassionate leaders.”
In Coquitlam, NWDLC supports: Adel Gamar for mayor and, for council, councillors Craig Hodge, Chris Wilson and Bonita Zarrillo as well as challengers Rob Bottos, Sean Lee, Trish Mandewo and Nicola Spurling.
CUPE Local 386, which represents Coquitlam unionized staff, has the same list, minus Mandewo, said president Gord Willis.
NWDLC is also backing Jennifer Blatherwick, Shari O’Neill and Craig Woods for Coquitlam school trustee jobs.
In Port Coquitlam, the NWDLC is giving its support to mayoral candidate Brad West and to council incumbents Laura Dupont, Darrell Penner, Glenn Pollock and Dean Washington as well as candidates Nancy McCurrach and Priscilla Omulo. For PoCo school board, the labour group is backing Christine Pollock and Bruce Richardson.
Today (Tuesday), CUPE Local 498, representing PoCo union workers, also validated NWDLC’s endorsements.
In Port Moody, NWDLC’s list varies slightly from that of CUPE Local 825, which represents city staff.
The board is supporting Rob Vagramov for mayor while the PoMo union local is backing Mayor Mike Clay for re-election.
NWDLC is also boosting councillors Barbara Junker, Meghan Lahti and Zoe Royer and challenger Amy Lubik while CUPE Local 825 has selected Junker, Lahti and Hunter Madsen as well as Lubik and Steve Milani, said local president Christine Gervan.
As for Port Moody school board, NWDLC is backing incumbents Keith Watkins and Lisa Park.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
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ECO GROUP RELEASES LIST
The Force of Nature Alliance — an environmental non-profit that fights industrial fossil fuel projects and raises money for First Nation legal challenges, among other things — disclosed this week its list of Tri-City candidates it’s promoting for council positions.
They are: Bonita Zarrillo and Nicola Spurling in Coquitlam; Laura Dupont and Priscilla Omulo in Port Coquitlam; and Rob Vagramov (mayor) and Amy Lubik, who's on leave from her position as a director of the eco group, in Port Moody.
Spokesperson Katie Harrison told The Tri-City News: “Candidates were chosen by volunteers in our community teams via a democratic decision-making process, which included an extensive interview and three separate rounds of voting by our candidate selection committee, our Tri-Cities community team and our Force of Nature Society members. They were selected on the basis of being outstanding climate champions though secondary factors were considered including electability, diversity and a proven history of social and environmental justice work.”
