COPE thought the East Side polls would save it on election night.
Instead, only one of nine candidates for city council, park and school board was elected for the Coalition of Progressive Electors. Allan Wong, a school board trustee since 1999, was the sole winner.
Wong faced with his son the results that were broadcast on a large flat screen in COPE's headquarters on East Broadway. He was modest about being the only COPE candidate making the cut in any of the three races early on.
"I'm only 200 above from the bottom," he said when 75 of the 135 polls city wide had been counted.
COPE didn't have the "big machine" the NPA and Vision Vancouver parties have, he added.
But at the end of the night, Wong ranked sixth of nine elected school board trustees.
COPE Coun. Ellen Woodsworth placed 11th in the race for council's 10 spots, edged out by Green Party of Vancouver candidate Adriane Carr.
"We don't have the key East Side polls," said Woodsworth, who was vying for a third term on council said when she was in 13th place at 9:42 p.m.
"She's worked so hard," said a disappointed Naomi Singer, artistic director of the Secret Lantern Society just after 10 p.m.
Disappointed park board hopeful, Brent Granby, concurred.
Only 40 minutes earlier a tense-lipped Granby had assured his two daughters who were glued to the results that early numbers reflected only West Side polls. He placed 13th in a race for seven spots.
Former COPE councillor Tim Louis, who served up quotable nuggets on council from 1999 to 2005, and served on the park board from 1990 to 1996, ranked 17th for one of 10 council spots. Newcomer R.J. Aquino placed 20th.
Granby wondered if voters hadn't understood that a vote for COPE supported Vision Vancouver as well because the two parties ran with a coordinated campaign. He also conjectured that the new Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver and the Greens may have drawn some of COPE's votes.
COPE's campaign focused largely on creating affordable housing. It also called for tax increases to big banks, fast-food chains and big box retailers.
Granby said COPE would have to work harder in 2014 to connect with voters.
Donalda Greenwell-Baker, the former internal chair of COPE, secretary-treasurer for CUPE Local 15 and chairwoman of the Hastings Park Conservancy, placed just after Granby for park board.
Al Blakey, a retired teacher, former executive on the B.C. Teachers Federation and school board trustee since 1999, Jane Bouey, a trustee since 2002, and newcomer Gwen Giesbrecht, a small business owner and a former chair of the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council, lost out for school board.
The COPE candidates rolled into the election party to "You! Me! Dancing" by indie rock band Los Campesinos. The election ended with the shuffle of defeat.
Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi
