One of the oldest labour groups in B.C. has come out with its endorsements for the October Richmond municipal elections – and they are backing most sitting council members.
The Vancouver and District Labour Council (VDLC) is endorsing the incumbent mayor Malcolm Brodie – so far, his only opponent for the mayor’s chair is rental and farmland advocate John Roston, who is running on the RITE Richmond slate.
Furthermore, they are endorsing all incumbent councillors who have announced they are running for re-election, despite representing various slate affiliations.
The only incumbent Richmond council member not endorsed by the VDLC is Coun. Linda McPhail. However, she hasn’t publicly announced whether she’s running for re-election.
Endorsements were published in late July for Richmond city council candidates, and the list includes incumbents Chak Au, who belongs to the Richmond Community Coalition slate, Couns. Andy Hobbs and Alexa Loo, who have run independently in the past and current councillors Carol Day and Michael Wolfe who are running under the RITE Richmond slate.
VDLC is also endorsing Bill McNulty, who previously ran with Richmond First, but who told the News this slate no longer exists.
The VDLC has also endorsed two other candidates, both with Richmond Citizens' Association (RCA), Jack Trovato and Keefer Pelech. Trovato is a retired teacher and Pelech previously worked as a constituency assistant to NDP MLA Kelly Greene.
Long-time city councillor Harold Steves ran under the RCA. He announced already last year he won’t be seeking re-election after almost half a century on council.
The municipal election will be held on Oct. 15, whereby Richmondites will elect a mayor, eight councillors and seven school trustees.
The VDLC represents 60,000 workers from more than 100 affiliated unions including those at food stores, the docks, public service and construction. It was founded in 1889 as the “Vancouver Trades and Labour Council.”
