Unfair advantage or trusted guidance? High-profile endorsements in a crowded municipal election
CBC
Decisions by outgoing Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson and several NDP MLAs to endorse candidates for city council have others in the race calling foul.
The issue is particularly evident in Ward Métis where 12 candidates are running in the Oct. 18 municipal election.
Iveson endorsed Ashley Salvador earlier this week, while candidate Cori Longo publicized her endorsement by Janis Irwin, the NDP MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood.
Endorsements from two other NDP MLAs — Deron Bilous of Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview and Marlin Schmidt of Edmonton-Gold Bar — appear on Longo's campaign website.
The moves are frustrating to Liz John-West, another Ward Métis candidate, who said she ran for city council because there's no affiliation with political parties.
Endorsements send a message that only people with political connections should run for municipal office and lead to worries that party lines will follow candidates into office, she said.
"Clearly, with these endorsements by the NDP, Mayor Don Iveson — as well as there's endorsement by the UCP, but it's more informal and subtle — definitely has blown off people like me having an opportunity to really have a fair chance at getting on city council," John-West said.
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