Mayor Sam Sullivan says he’ll endorse Coun. Peter Ladner if the latter beats him in the June 8 nomination contest in Vancouver’s ruling party, the Non-Partisan Association.

However, Ladner, who recently chucked the NPA’s red, white, and blue colours on his campaign Web site (www.peterladner.ca/ ) in favour of green, won’t say the same for the mayor.

“I’ve gone through a lot to accommodate the leadership aspirations of my opponent,” Sullivan told the Straight on May 13. “I would hope at the minimum that if I am successful he would endorse me, and support all of the NPA team as it goes into the election campaign.”

Saying that unity within the NPA is essential for a victory in this fall’s civic election, Sullivan reiterated his support. “I don’t expect that [losing to Ladner] to happen, but this is the right thing,” he said. “I’ve been very clear: my number-one priority is the city of Vancouver and my number two is a healthy and successful NPA.”

Amid continuing suggestions that he has raised enough funds to run as an independent, Sullivan said that he would never consider such an option.

“I believe in loyalty and commitment,” Sullivan said. “I believe in the NPA and what it represents. It’s fiscally conservative, socially liberal, and environmentally responsible. Those are the values that I stand for and I will continue to support.”

When reached for comment on whether he’ll endorse Sullivan if the mayor wins the nomination, Ladner initially said “Um, ah…” before giving out a small laugh.

“I’m not going to speculate on what’s going to happen afterwards,” Ladner eventually told the Straight.

Considered by some as a natural candidate for mayor because of his family’s patrician lineage, in contrast to Sullivan’s East Vancouver roots, Ladner added: “I’ll make up my mind when we get there.”

Asked about his Web site’s colour change, Ladner said his team didn’t like the NPA’s traditional red, white, and blue colour combination because it was “too shrill”.

As for his personal take on the NPA’s colours, Ladner said: “It looks too militaristic to me.”