Sim, Stewart close at top of city’s new mayoral poll
Three months before Vancouver heads to the polls, it appears two mayoral candidates have surfaced as the front-runners.
According to the results of a survey conducted by Research Co., Non-Partisan Association candidate Ken Sim and independent Kennedy Stewart are favoured among voters who have already made up their minds. Among the respondents, 26 per cent said they plan to vote for Sim while 25 per cent have thrown their support behind Stewart.
Vision Vancouver’s Ian Campbell is third with 20 per cent, followed by independent candidate Shauna Sylvester with 11 per cent. Coalition Vancouver’s Wai Young (eight per cent), Yes Vancouver’s Hector Bremner (five per cent) and ProVancouver’s David Chen (four per cent) follow.
“There are still many voters who are in the process of getting to know the contenders,” said Research Co. president Mario Canseco.
“Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) feel they do not have enough information about candidates and parties to cast all their votes in the municipal election.”
Between Sim and Stewart, Sim is more popular with men (32 per cent), west-side residents (31 per cent) and those over the age of 55 (36 per cent).
Meanwhile, Stewart is the top pick for women (30 per cent), east-side residents (29 per cent), downtown residents (32 per cent) and those between the ages of 35 and 54 (31 per cent).
Candidates would do well to consider voters’ feelings about housing affordability and developers too. When asked, 82 per cent of Vancouverites felt housing affordability was worse in Vancouver than other municipalities, while 57 per cent feel the same about the influence of developers.
Other responses included: Thirty-one per cent believe all Metro Vancouver municipalities should amalgamate into one like Toronto, while 48 per cent disagree. Still, 21 per cent aren’t sure.
Thirty per cent think Vancouver has better public safety than other municipalities, while 48 per cent say it’s about the same. Another 12 per cent say public safety is worse in Vancouver, while 10 per cent aren’t sure.
The data is pulled from an online survey conducted between July 13 and 16 of 400 adults in Vancouver.