Video: Election Night Victory For "Mayor Moonbeam"

While I generally try to maintain a professional equanimity in any of my blogging and vlogging, it's been quite difficult during this last Vancouver municipal election campaign given the low level of tactics that the NPA, incumbent party Vision's main opposition, has resorted to in its bid to win votes. This is the party that has given us exemplary local councillors Peter Ladner and Gordon Price in the past, but the NPA campaign this time around didn't shed much light on the talents of their latest crop of candidates.

The Suzanne Anton camp's negative ads and weak attempts at satire didn't work in the end. Sufficient numbers of voters saw through Anton's fearmongering about the Occupy Vancouver camp and the dangers therein of vermin, fire, drug abuse, destruction of the art archives, and harm to civic sensibilties, to renew their support for Gregor, his bike lanes, back yard chickens, and his front yard oat patches.

"Mayor Moonbeam" (the NPA's moniker) did impressively well in the end. Not only did he win the mayoral seat for another three years (winning 77,005 votes to Anton's 58,152), but all seven Vision council candidates were elected. The addition of Adriane Carr, Vancouver's first Green on council leaves the NPA with just two seats. Vision kept control of the Park Board and School Board too.

I shot this (see end) at the Vision election night party. Of course, there was jubilitation all round as you can see in the video.

But the victory really sank in on the ride home. As I stepped out of the Wall Center, where the Vision party was being held, into the frosty night, crossed the road to my bike, and rode off down Vision's new separated bike lanes on Hornby and Dunsmuir on my way to East Van.

I felt pleasantly reassured that I had my own space on the roads on this treacherous icy night, and that with tonight's result, that safe space on the roads was ensured for another three years.

Vancouver City Council Make-up

Raymond Louie

Kerry Jang

Heather Deal

Andrea Reimer

Tim Steveson

Geoff Meggs

Tony Tang

Elizabeth Ball

George Affleck