Green party’s Carr rules out run for mayor
Popular councillor says she doesn’t want to split centre-left vote any more than it is already
Green councillor Adriane Carr has decided against a run for mayor of Vancouver, saying she fears splitting the left-ofcentre vote even further.
The news of Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives victory in Ontario, she said, re-affirmed her decision.
Ford’s win, Carr said, was “a really good example” of vote-splitting on the left leading to a big electoral victory for a right-wing candidate.
“That’s exactly what I don’t want to see happen in the October election,” Carr said Friday. “In a crowded field of mayoral candidates, you could end up with somebody squeaking through who really doesn’t really represent (Vancouver).”
Carr has spent months mulling whether to seek a third term on council or run for mayor. She announced her decision to Green party members at a meeting Friday evening.
A few months ago, Carr appeared primed to make a run at becoming Vancouver’s first female mayor. Mayor Gregor Robertson announced he wouldn’t seek a fourth term in office, and his party, Vision Vancouver, announced in March they were considering supporting another party’s candidate or an independent instead of running their own candidate.
In April, a Research Co. poll found Carr with the highest support among 11 potential candidates. A subsequent poll showed her leading, apparently gaining steam.
But two viable left-leaning independents launched mayoral campaigns while Carr was considering her future: first Shauna Sylvester, then Kennedy Stewart.
And Carr was unable, she said Friday, to secure the support of other centre-left parties.
During her conversations with Vancouver voters, many raised the same concern: By taking the gamble of running for mayor, Carr — council’s top vote-winner in the last election — risked giving up a safe Green council seat.
Carr said she won’t publicly endorse a mayoral candidate because she wants to be able to collaborate with whoever does win.
One of the largest factors influencing Carr’s decision was when, after Vision first suggested it might support another party’s candidate for mayor, she learned it had instead decided to run its own candidate after all.
“I remember thinking at the time, ‘Wow, that’s disappointing,’” Carr said. “Frankly, I thought there might be more effort to be more collaborative in this election. Especially for Vision, they’re coming into an election where if they don’t get that it’s a change election, then they’re not talking to people on the street ... People have indicated very clearly they’re at the end of their rope and the end of their support for Vision as a majority on council.”
It would be difficult for Carr to win with a Vision candidate in the race, she said.
“My sense is that their popularity has plummeted, but they have a machine and they would mount a very effective campaign.”
People have indicated very clearly they’re at the end of their rope and the end of their support for Vision.” Councillor Adriane Carr