Stewart’s lead growing in mayoral race, poll indicates

Independent candidate Kennedy Stewart is pulling ahead in the race for Vancouver’s top job after Ian Campbell’s departure, according to the latest poll.

The Research Co. found that 36 per cent of respondents say they will vote for Stewart in next month’s election, up 11 points since the company’s last poll in July.

The poll shows Stewart with an 11-point lead over the NPA’s Ken Sim, who is in second place at 25 per cent.

Among female voters, Stewart holds a 23-point lead over Sim, while Sim is slightly ahead of Stewart (32 per cent to 29 per cent) among decided male voters.

Sim is followed by independent candidate Shauna Sylvester with 17 per cent, Hector Bremner of Yes Vancouver at seven per cent, and David Chen of Pro-Vancouver with four per cent support.

Support is lower for Wai Young of Coalition Vancouver at three per cent, Fred Harding of Vancouver First, also three per cent, and Connie Fogal of Idea Vancouver at just two per cent. Thirty-one per cent of voters are undecided.

The survey was conducted after the final list of mayoral candidates was released by the city on Friday.

Vision Vancouver mayoral contender Campbell, who had the support of 18 per cent of decided voters in the July Research Co. poll, withdrew from the race a week ago Monday.

Campbell’s departure has helped Stewart, who currently has the support of 45 per cent of Vancouverites who voted for Gregor Robertson in the last election, said Mario Canseco, president of Research Co.