NEW NSV team at Vancouver City Hall, Oct 24, 2011 - History in the Making

Vancouver City Hall (Vancouver, October 24, 2011) -- New elector organization Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver (NSV) announced today that it will be running five candidates in the November 19 civic election. Randy Helten runs for mayor, and Elizabeth Murphy, Terry Martin, Marie Kerchum, and Nicole Benson, for councillor positions.

NSV is a network organization of individual electors from neighbourhoods across Vancouver that pledges to restore real democracy to City Council. With real democracy, our City can handle all of its challenges better. We believe municipal government, which has exclusive control over land use and development, should operate in the interest of all residents and stakeholders in Vancouver. Those who regulate development should not be politically funded by the
interests they regulate. NSV only accepts donations from individuals, not special interests.

NSV supports sustainable development in a scale, pace and form that protects affordable rental housing, heritage buildings and neighbourhood character, implemented through genuine grassroots neighbourhood-based planning processes. Decision-making at City Hall must be fixed to eliminate conflicts of interest and ensure that communities have genuine opportunities and a greater say in determining their future composition and character. Vancouver deserves a new alternative to the entrenched political parties in this City.

NSV is endorsing a diverse team of individuals not career
politicians, but committed, capable residents who want to serve the public interest and are committed to the principles outlined on our website (nsvancouver.ca).

Randy Helten, NSV candidate for mayor, envisions Vancouver as a
leading twenty-first century city sustainable in every way, including
socially, environmentally and economically. He founded
cityhallwatch.ca and metrovanwatch.ca to help empower citizens to
engage our civic and regional governments and hold them accountable.

Elizabeth Murphy, a proponent for neighbourhood-based planning
processes, has experience with the CityPlan Community Visions program
and community groups. A businesswoman with a professional background
in the private and public sectors, she brings a balanced approach to City Hall.

Terry Martin has a diverse background, including being Chair of the
City's Board of Variance. With experience in small business as well
as mental health work, he has in-depth knowledge of many civic issues
and the ability to be an effective and knowledgeable advocate for all
people and neighbourhoods of Vancouver.

Marie Kerchum served in an executive capacity as the Registrar and
Deputy Registrar for the BC College of Teachers for more than 17
years. Her experience with this regulatory body for the teaching
profession gave her a thorough understanding of issues of good
governance in the public interest.

Nicole Benson is an activist for both social and environmental
justice, and is involved in several non-profit organizations and
community groups. She believes in transparency and accountability at all levels of government and advocates for greater citizen
participation in the political process.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism