Two more candidates are apparently about to jump into the rough waters of civic politics — one of them literally. Freelance journalist Hadani Ditmars is apparently going to launch her candidacy for a Vision Vancouver park board spot tomorrow with an open water swim at Kits at 4 p.m.
Ditmars, known for her international reporting work covering Middle Eastern affairs, brings an unconventional approach to Vancouver politics. Her decision to announce her park board candidacy with a public swim at Kitsilano Beach reflects both her personal passion for Vancouver’s outdoor recreational facilities and her understanding of how to capture media attention in an increasingly crowded political field. The timing isn’t accidental — late summer at Kits Pool and beach represents peak usage of the city’s park facilities, exactly the kind of infrastructure she’d be overseeing if elected.
As well, Thomas Lockhart is also going to make a run for it. Lockhart is the operator of West Coast Tattoo and perhaps most famous, in political circles, for being the person who got school board trustee Sharon Gregson interested in guns. Lockhart, a competitive shooter, gave her a Colt .45 five years ago and she’s since become an outspoken advocate for gun ownership — a position that has made her not the favoured candidate by Vancouver teacher unions, I hear. Gregson is running for a VV school board spot.
Lockhart’s entry into the political arena adds another layer of complexity to Vision Vancouver’s expanding roster. His background as a small business owner in Vancouver’s tattoo industry gives him insight into both the creative economy and the regulatory challenges facing entrepreneurs in the city. However, his connection to firearms advocacy through Gregson could prove politically problematic for Vision Vancouver, a party trying to appeal to progressive voters who might be uncomfortable with gun ownership promotion.
The inclusion of these two candidates reflects Vision Vancouver’s strategy of casting a wide net to attract diverse voices and backgrounds. However, it also highlights the challenges facing any new political party trying to build a coherent brand while remaining inclusive. Ditmars represents the intellectual, internationally-minded professional class that Vision hopes to attract, while Lockhart brings street-level business experience and connections to communities that traditional politics often overlooks.
Until now, the rush of people to run for Vision Vancouver has been taken as a sign of the young party’s momentum. But if things keep going like this, this political show is going to jump the shark soon. The party risks diluting its message and confusing voters about what Vision Vancouver actually stands for when candidates with such varied backgrounds and potentially conflicting viewpoints all claim the same political banner.
