Allan De Genova backs Peter Ladner for Vancouver mayor
The mayoral candidacy of NPA councillor Peter Ladner has received a boost from someone who, under a different set of circumstances, would have run against him from the other side of Vancouver’s political fence.
Park board commissioner Allan De Genova, who sought but failed to obtain the mayoral endorsement of Vision Vancouver said in a phone interview on October 17 that he has decided to back Ladner’s bid.
The Straight asked De Genova why he’s not supporting former NDP Vancouver-Fairview MLA Gregor Robertson, who won Vision’s mayoral nomination.
“I think they both bring some strengths,” the long-time park commissioner said of the two candidates.
“But at the end of the day, I made it very clear that and the reason I resigned from Vision is that I’m not an NDP person. I’m just not that far left.
“Gregor has not proven to me that he’s a centrist guy because the entire [Vision] machine is made up of the NDP. That’s why I support Peter Ladner,” De Genova added.
De Genova is one of the city’s most seasoned politicians, and his skills in organizing as well as fundraising have been proven during his long years with the NPA.
De Genova didn’t say whether he has renewed his NPA membership.
His daughter Melissa, who had joined Vision after her father had a falling out with Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan, is running for park board with the NPA.
De Genova is also supporting the park board bid of Vision Vancouver candidate Sarah Blyth.
Comments
3 Comments
Tieleman
Oct 23, 2008 at 6:10pm
Bill Tieleman - Allan De Genova and his daughter are once again embarrassing themselves in public. Both De Genova's joined Vision Vancouver and tried to sign up members to support their nomination as candidates.
Al didn't even have the decency to show up for the voting results of his bid for the mayoralty nomination and now he supports the opposing party's candidate!
His lack of class makes him a detriment to any party or endorsement.
<a href="http://billtieleman.blogspot.com/" target="_balnK">http://billtieleman.blogspot.com/</a>
David Wong
Oct 27, 2008 at 9:42am
I disagree with Bill Tieleman's assessment of Allan DeGenova.
Mr DeGenova and I were adversaries back in the late 1990s, when we led a city wide group opposing the City's plans to remove parts of an urban forest - many hundreds of mature trees - at the Fraserview Golfcourse.
We found City staff, obnoxious, belligerent and manipulative. The only Park board commissioner who spent time and effort to listen and help our East Vancouver community was Al DeGenova. Although I tried my best to undermine and wrankle Al and the Park Board, Allan came through as a dignified and classy public official.
Mr Al DeGenova eventually earned my utmost respect. And that is not easy to do ...from a busy troublemaker like yours truly.
With the lessons learned from our efforts to save Fraserview Forest, we later directed our energies to City Council... where we later helped craft Vancouver's Tree retention By-law. That's why Citizens of our city are still enjoying the many trees located on private property... making it difficult for sleazy home builders to clearcut our natural resource.
We can again, thank Al DeGenova for helping us stick handle the effort through our City's sea of red bloody tape.
It's nice to share stories of how former sworn adversaries can become respected friends.
Al's a classy guy... and I will also be supporting his daughter Melissa DeGenova, who will be following her dad's footsteps in becoming Park Board Commissioner, running under NPA. And if Melissa had ran under Vision, I'd still support her, as I vote for the candidate rather than for the civic party.
And I wish Melissa DeGenova well in succeeding.
David Wong
former chair of Friends of Fraserview forest
Melissa De Genova
Oct 28, 2008 at 12:28am
As usual, Bill Tieleman cannot see beyond the NDP colors. Allan and myself and our whole team did not show up for the voting results because we were not notified of a “special announcement”, just another example of how Vision either wasn’t organized or excluded Al and myself. This being said I was scrutineering in the room and was around after the vote and never asked to stay. Our head scrutineer was never asked to stay or alert Al of a special media scrum for the results. To verify this you can always our former campaign chair Ian Baillie, who is now Gregor’s communications guy, who also wasn’t invited to the announcement.
Peter Ladner and the Non Partisan Association exemplify a centrist party, not caught up in partisan politics. Sadly, the moment Gregor became elected, Vision became the NDP team, farming candidates affiliated directly to the NDP, focusing on partisanship rather than responsible civic government.
If Mr. Tieleman wants to talk about decency, perhaps he should use the example of our hard work on the Vision Vancouver Spring Fling before the nomination, this dinner was planned months before anyone announced their candidacy for the mayoral race . Allan and I sold most of the tables and Raymond Louie donated hours of his time arranging the venue and food. I don’t remember Gregor putting any time or effort into this event”¦. He didn’t sell tables nor offer to help, I’m not sure that he even purchased his own ticket or table. He just showed up as usual (now that’s classy!) I find it sad Bill that you must spend your days as a “political observer””¦. Checking to see what facebook groups I have and have not been invited to (the topic of one of your blog posts!)”¦.I’ll stayed tuned and see what SHOCKING opinion you turn up in the next 24 hours”¦”¦