Whom I plan to vote for in the upcoming municipal election

I’ve never cast a vote in an election in my entire life. Yet this year I have to do my civic duty to vote for nine candidates in the upcoming municipal election here in Victoria. Of course I’ll be voting for myself, but that leaves eight slots to fill.

Let’s start with the bad news: I still haven’t filled every position, even though I’ve researched candidates more thoroughly than anyone else in town did.

The good news is that I’m not too picky. I’m not running for council to make friends, I just want to align with candidates I can work with to fix this city’s innumerable problems. So far I’ve nominated four of them, and I’m on good terms with a couple more.

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Candidates I’ve nominated:

Bruce McGuigan

Showed up on Pandora Avenue: No
Met at a community event: Yes

He’s the type that listens. He also makes solving homelessness one of his priorities, and while he doesn’t have much of a plan, if he can work with community advocates I’m sure we can figure something out.

Peter Gibbs

Showed up on Pandora Avenue: Yes
Met at a community event: Yes

So far our priorities and values are aligned, and we keep bumping into each other at events on the ground, which is a good sign. As a bonus I don’t have to wonder where they stand on the rights of transgender people.

Susan Kim

Showed up on Pandora Avenue: Yes
Met at a community event: Yes

I like that she’s riding the Victoria For All wave, so I’m willing to forgive some lapses in her voting record. My only outstanding issue with her is that she could use a common sense filter at times, but I can work with that.

Bella Lee

Showed up on Pandora Avenue: Yes
Met at a community event: No

I like her energy and her overall platform. I have one issue with her, and it’s that she obviously overpromises, whereas I’m running on fiscal responsibility even if that means slashing some nonessential expenses, so there may be tension down the road.

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Candidates I haven’t nominated but would:

Jack Sandor

Showed up on Pandora Avenue: Yes
Met at a community event: Yes

I like his background and that he dresses casually even for a debate at the Hotel Grand Pacific. He also doesn’t shy away from controversial issues, like homelessness on Pandora Avenue or the rights of transgender people. I have differences with his housing platform but nothing insurmountable.

Shona Dion

Showed up on Pandora Avenue: No
Met at a community event: Yes

She’s a notable activist in the labour movement, and her platform is grounded in common sense. The main issue with her campaign is that she’s the average candidate who doesn’t stand out, which is the kiss of death for a politician; if she were bolder henceforth she might still have a chance at winning.

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Candidates I would put up with in last resort:

Dave Thompson

Showed up on Pandora Avenue: No
Met at a community event: Yes

I don’t like the prospect of voting for another incumbent and I have issues with his voting record on homelessness, but we’re often in agreement. I also take into account that I got him to show up at Stadacona Park back in 2023 when it was scheduled for closure to overnight sheltering; I hope he’s since learned from ignoring the warnings of community advocates.

Krista Loughton

Showed up on Pandora Avenue: No
Met at a community event: Yes

Considering her public comments and voting record on homelessness, supporting her would be choosing the devil I know over the devil I don’t. That being said, she knows homelessness better than most remaining candidates, which by the way is a double-edged sword; if only she could be persuaded to listen to community advocates instead of dismissing them like she were an authority on the topic, maybe I could work with her.

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Are you a candidate for councillor not on the above list?

Unless you’re among those I’ve already denounced as subversive or dismissed as unserious, you still have a remote chance to earn my vote. Follow some of the reasons you may not have made a good impression on me so far:

• We haven’t met either on Pandora Avenue nor at a community event in recent months. I’m a community advocate; if you don’t show up for the community, why would I cast a vote for you.
• You didn’t persuade me you’re honest and authentic. But who knows, maybe when we met you were having a bad day and you tried too hard to make a good impression.
• Your platform is shallow. I like to see a detailed agenda with concrete proposals and a coherent vision holding it all together, not just three priorities on a NationBuilder website. Convince me you’re the expert in your own field.
• You avoid taking a stance on controversial issues. I expect an elected representative to have an educated opinion on the various crises afflicting this city instead of dodging hard questions, so don’t just leave it to the experts or claim it isn’t a municipal issue.
• You associate with toxic candidates. I judge you by the company you keep.
• You’re posting AI-generated content online. I want to read about your own opinion, not that of a chat bot.
• You’re not diligent in filling online profiles, answering questionnaires, or attending all-candidate events. Please take your campaign seriously.
• You filed your nomination paperwork on the very last day before deadline. Good luck convincing me you’re council material then.

That being said, the campaign isn’t over yet, so keep trying to earn my vote. And if you fail, at least you’ll have earned my respect.