Adriane Carr makes history Dec. 5 when she's sworn in as Vancouver's first Green Party councillor. But her victory was a long time coming.
Carr lost seven bids for office-two federal, four provincial and one school board race-before pulling out her first win in Nov. 19's civic election. She scored the last spot on council beating incumbent Ellen Woodsworth of COPE by 90 votes.
Carr won't have power afforded to parties that elect more than one candidate, but she has goals for the three-year term.
"I spelled it out during the campaign," she said. "Affordable housing and a development process that will actually not only deliver affordable housing but do so while respecting neighbourhood character and the involvement of citizens in decision-making process," she said.
Carr maintains she's not worried about being the lone Green on council or getting motions seconded since Vancouverites have expressed distaste for the "hyper-partisanship that council has exhibited in the past."
"I've got people power behind me. I think that Vision, as the governing party at city hall, recognizes that I was elected by people who want to see my voice and my positions-in a way like a monitor of how we move forward with the greenest city goals. So I think they'll pay attention."
Carr's focus has largely been on provincial and federal politics, although she noted her master's thesis was on development issues in Vancouver so her knowledge of urban social geography will help, but she anticipates a steep learning curve for the first six months.
"I'm not unfamiliar with how cities work, how bylaws work, the planning process, the citizen engagement process etc.," she said. "That will help, but I don't deny that it's really critical for me to really focus on learning the ropes well so I can make sound and solid decisions."
Elizabeth Ball, who won one of two NPA council seats, isn't a rookie. She's already served one term on council-2005 to 2008-albeit when the NPA held the majority of seats. She's "delighted" to have fellow NPAer George Affleck on council since he'll be able to second motions-an advantage NPA Coun. Suzanne Anton didn't enjoy this term.
"Obviously, things change if you're not the government, as it were, but hopefully there will be a feeling of collaboration and that we'll be able to move things forward," she said.
"If an initiative is a particularly good one-someone else might decide that's something they want to push as well. A good initiative is a good initiative and it behooves the so-called opposition to be able to see that it's good for Vancouver and vote for it."
Ball, founder of the Carousel Theatre Company and School, plans to bring knowledge gained from work in the arts to the council table.
"I always come back to my expertise, which is arts and culture, but I always look at that as job creation and as an economic driver within the city, as well as creating a quality of life and making it worthwhile to live in a place," she said.
Ball said an advantage of having already been a councillor is the understanding of how long it can take to see projects through.
"The toughest thing for most people to adjust to is how long it does take to accomplish anything because one doesn't realize how many layers there are in government. So you can have the best idea in the whole world, but if you see it in nine months truly accomplished, you've done miracles."
Twitter: @Naoibh
