The field got a lot more crowded in Vancouver's upcoming mayoral contest with confirmation that civic councillor Peter Ladner intends to fight Sam Sullivan for the city's top job.
Ladner hasn't officially said anything to media about his plans, but CTV News has learned he will be asking the executive of his party, the Non-Partisan Association, to change its rules so that he has a chance to throw his hat into the ring.
Right now, the party "green-lights" incumbents, meaning it automatically supports the incumbent mayor, Sam Sullivan, in the next civic election, this fall.
Ladner has been green-lit, but only as a city councillor. In order to run against Sullivan, he would need the part to open up competition for the mayor's chair.
For his part, Sullivan is not exactly pleased that a member of his own party is trying to take the top job.
"I was somewhat surprised but this is politics," Sullivan said Wednesday.
One councillor, who wouldn't go on record, said that Ladner wants to run because he thinks he can do a better job than Sam Sullivan -- and that he can win.
Sam Sullivan took a lot of flak during last year's three-month municipal strike, as some dubbed the dispute "Sam's Strike." Garbage was even dumped outside his Yaletown Condo.
Ladner remained relatively unscathed.
Sam Sullivan has already declared he is seeking re-election. He maintains his first priority is the city, and that his own personal needs aren't part of why he's running.
"I believe I have good support for the citizens," he told CTV. "I have never run simply to be popular. I have run to lead the city so it will be healthy. Sometimes you make decisions that not everyone agrees with. But that is my role -- to lead the city," he said.
"I'm not finished, especially when I think about my role in the Olympics," he said.
Sullivan said he has an excellent working relationship with Ladner. "Councillor Ladner is a very important part of our team."
Councillor Raymond Louie is also interested in the mayor's chair, but on behalf of rival party Vision Vancouver.
He said that Ladner's run looks like the a schism in the NPA runs deep.
"I think it confirms for people that mayor Sullivan has been telling half-truths about this united team he has proposed," he said. "Obviously there's a great division and no surprise because of the poor performance of Mayor Sullivan."
But, said Louie, he doesn't think Ladner can do any better.
"The two voting records are almost identical," said Louie. "If I'm not happy with Sam Sullivan, then Peter Ladner is no improvement."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Janet Dirks
