Login / RegisterCOPE candidate Tim Louis says he's just as colourful as Rafael “RJ” Aquino
Tim Louis says that underneath his “white, pasty, boring…visual appearance” he’s actually a “person of colour”.
“I’m as red as Fidel, I’m as orange as Adrian Dix, and I’m as green as David Suzuki,” Louis told the Straight in a phone interview in the run-up to the September 18 nomination meeting of the Coalition of Progressive Electors.
The Vancouver lawyer and former two-term COPE councillor made the comment partly in jest and somewhat in exasperation over yet another endorsement for budding Filipino Canadian politician Rafael “R J” Aquino, who, like himself, is running for a spot on the party’s three-person slate for council.
Louis, who has also served two terms as a park commissioner, guessed what outgoing COPE park commissioner Loretta Woodcock told the Straight about who she is supporting as the party’s council nominees.
In a phone interview, Woodcock said that she’s backing incumbent councillors Ellen Woodsworth and David Cadman. For the third slot, she picked Aquino, a novice in civic politics.
”We need some diversity and youth at council level,” Woodcock said. “And that would be R J Aquino.”
In an interview with the Straight in June, Woodsworth, who defeated Louis in the 2008 COPE nomination for the second and last slot in the COPE council slate in that year’s civic election, described Aquino as an “excellent candidate”.
Louis considers himself as the underdog in the nomination battle. “The powers that be would like to see a city council free of a voice that is sometimes outspoken and sometimes committed to providing a voice alternative to the voice of the developers,” he said.
Asked why some people in COPE don’t like him, Louis said: “I know that I’ve always said what I think, thought what I say, and sometimes that ruffles feathers. My strong point is not stroking feathers.”
Considered a protégé of Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore, the first Filipino Canadian to win a seat in the B.C. legislative assembly, Aquino is pleased with the endorsements he has received.
He said he has mixed feelings about this Sunday’s contest, which will see six candidates vying for the three slots for council. Aquino told the Straight: “I’m nervous. I feel good. I mean, it’s the first time I’m attending it. Even though I’ve been, I guess, told what to expect, I don’t really know what to expect. But I hope there will be a large turnout.”
In this paper some time ago Indo Canadians said they would not. So out pops Sharma. Good strategy Vision but devoid of ethics.
Stop being used or maybe you don't mind being slaves to the political aspirations of these corrupt parties of big money and big developers.
Vision had a Fillipino candidate last election who lost the nomination he was assured he would have by Vision brass. When he lost the Fillipino community was pissed so now RJ is there to apease them and gain there votes otherwise he would never have been a candidate.
As far as David goes, his time has come and gone as well.
He's away too much and he knows he can vote anyway he likes for show knowing Vision has the votes to win any motion with or without him.
It is time to replace David and the rest of the Vision/Cope, NPA with some new independents. We need change and new blood at the civic level and voting in these old pols year in and out merely leads to stagnation and ampathy by voting public.
That is why only 25% of voters voted last time. Yawn, boring and why vote nothing changes is the attitude of most voters.
Like I said we need change and the old insiders will not make any real change as they are controlled by the same people. If you don;t believe me just follow the money.
Oh, Ellen is the only one there for the people but otherwise what I have said applies.
My family has been in this city since 1934 and I have taught, raised a family here, produced here, operated business here and sat on numerous committees here and made tremendous contributions to making this city a better place. And tell me what have you done CD?
I love this city and am an active participant here.
Directing this sort of mean spirited comment at me shows your bias and ignorance towards someone you have not met and do not know.
If you are still ignorant about the 2005 election read my book called To be Mayor of Vancouver and learn something.
You should attempt to enter into some interesting commentary here and not waste people's time insulting me.
Lastly, I do not care if you disagree with me but insulting me is unacceptable. Oh, one other thing. If you have the guts to insult me please have the guts to give your real name and stop hiding behind Commercial Drive name.
Crappy for Rey? Sure. But are you saying that he should have been promised and delivered a spot on the slate despite what members wanted? Isn't that far more unethical and transparent racially motivated politics? The thing you were railing against in the first place?
RJ is running for a spot in a democratic race. If he wins, it'll be because he signed up enough members, organized, and convinced people as to his passion and drive. COPE isn't guaranteeing him anything, nor should they. I for one hope he wins. Not because he's Fillipino, but because he's young and smart and represents my generation of Vancouver.
Tim Louis? Not so much...Even Fidel's brother is moving on from that world view, it's time you and Tim did the same.
"to truck in Indo-Canadian block voters".
It is really pathetic when someone such as yourself is so racist. To suggest that Indo Canadians are brought in by the busload to block vote is a disgusting attack. on a wonderful community which has contributed significantly to the betterment of Vancouver life.
If you are the type that is supporting R J Aquino I hope he goes down in flames on Sunday. .
Also, I am not talking about how he will get the nomination but why the parties want him to run for the nomination. The back room boys and girls scot people and those who fit their political needs, and who can bring a particular voting group to vote for the party, are invited to run for the nomination. Talk to David Chadnosky about how the system works.
In the case of RJ he brings perceived support from the Fillipino community.
I really want to have dialogue with people who have been elected at the civic level and who know politics as they are, not how they wished them to be.
I have studied poltical science at the post secondary level and been elected at the civic level and have run a federal campaign.
Being young should have no bearing on anything as being Fillipino should mean nothing as well but does in a political sense if you want the youth vote or the Fillipino vote for example. Saying you want someone to win because they are young is as silly as saying you want someone to win because of their gender, race, religion.
People should be judged by the content of their character. Who said that?
When you get enough real practical experience talk to me as you clearly do not kwow how the dirty game of politics works.
Lastly, I repeat, I have every right to fight for the betterment of this city in the public view or from any other mantle for that matter.
Your suggestion and request I be quieted is another insulting and undemocratic notion.
So all I can end with is, bite me.
Someone doesn't follow council. But he sure likes to comment.
COPE has voted against Vision development initiatives more times than the NPA.
Here James, catch yourself up:
http://vancouvercouncilvotes.wordpress.com/about/
Until COPE acts independent of Vision, COPE will have little credibility with socially progressive voters as Vision is in the pockets of big money and big developers and by association this taints COPE.
I am confused as to why you do not see this.
These are facts not my opinions.
I can forgive the fact that both organizations have elected members with close ties to the provincial NDP but I never forget some in Vision are also active in the federal and even provincial Liberal parties.
Some might try to advance the false argument that the accord seems to last in order to keep unity for the very necessary change of government at the provincial level. To them I have to ask, is the municipal government not important to you? Do you not know how tight Vision is with developers? Do you understand the driving force behind it and that it is at odds with the social forces behind COPE? Why so keen to defeat the NPA when Vision often out-NPAs the NPA?
I say, "SCREW THE ACCORD! NOMINATE A FULL SLATE!" Politics is about listening to the electorate. We had once a leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada put in writing that he would never merge with the Canadian Alliance Party. Did he suffer politically when the merger happened anyway with his endorsement? No, he is serving Minister of Defense. What does that paper matter? The City matters, it's needs matter and Vision Vancouver is not good for this City. Nominate a full slate, COPE and then lift that accord into the air and set it on fire.
Fat Guy should stop blithely- and falsely- presuming what Cope members do. Clearly he doesn't know just how independent minded the grassroots are. Stay away from the prediction biz, man.