The party that landed Olympic swimmer Brent Hayden as a park board candidate is expected to add another one or two candidates to its roster with a higher public profile than the bronze medalist.
So says Jesse Johl, the founder of Vancouver First.
“You might be surprised who comes out for council,” said Johl, noting the party is still discussing a possible run with some well-known Vancouver residents.
The party surprised many in civic circles over the weekend with its announcement that Hayden, who won a bronze medal in the 100-metre freestyle swim at the London Olympic Games in 2012, had joined the party.
Although the 30-year-old Hayden has no political experience, he is arguably more well known across the city than the NPA’s mayoral candidate Kirk LaPointe and others campaigning to get elected Nov. 15.
But whether Hayden’s name alone can get him elected isn’t easily answered considering he has joined a party that includes school trustees Ken Denike and Sophia Woo, who were expelled in June from the NPA over a controversy regarding the school board’s revised sexual orientation and gender identities policy.
Hayden told the Courier he isn’t worried about the connection.
“One thing I’ve been assured about in this party is that everybody will be able to have their own voice and we won’t have to conform to one policy or agenda,” he said, noting he is a supporter of LGBTQ rights.
Hayden noted he has had gay teammates and believes all people — no matter what their sexual preference, gender or race — should be treated equally. Hayden said he chose not to run as independent because he wanted to be part of team.
“I’d be lying if I said I’m not a little bit nervous, due to my inexperience,” he said. “It’s a pretty big step for me, so being able to have a team behind me is a pretty big thing for me.”
Hayden has lived in Vancouver since 2001 and resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife. He teaches swimming, does speaking engagements and has had his photography displayed in Vancouver and Mission, his hometown.
Vancouver First also added Johl’s brother Yogi Johl, a retired Olympic wrestler, seniors’ advocate Doug Starink and Massimo Rossetti, a former Hastings Community Association president, as park board candidates.
Asked whether he would seek a seat with Vancouver First, Johl said he wasn’t ruling it out. He was a short-lived NPA council candidate in the 2011 election but said he decided not to run because he had differences with the party over its campaign strategy. Johl also ran unsuccessfully with the Conservatives in the 2004 federal election.
Most recently, Johl participated in a campaign with six community centre associations to oppose the ruling Vision Vancouver park board’s implementation of the OneCard system. He has also been embroiled in a legal fight to retain his president’s post as head of Riley Park Hillcrest community association.
Though Hayden pointed to a priority of ensuring proper planning of a new Vancouver Aquatic Centre and revitalizing or rebuilding community centres such as the one at Kensington, Johl said the party also wants an ombudsman’s office at city hall and a lobbyists’ registry.
Vancouver First is one of several parties challenging the ruling Vision Vancouver party, which has historically faced its biggest threat from the NPA. The party, which Johl said boasts more than 2,000 members and has no connection to Surrey First or Richmond First, hasn’t decided whether it will run a mayoral candidate.
But COPE, which previously ran coordinated campaigns with Vision, will challenge Mayor Gregor Robertson for the mayor’s chair. Community organizer Meena Wong announced Wednesday she will seek the mayoral nomination with COPE and longtime party member and former councillor Tim Louis confirmed Thursday that he will seek a council nomination.
