The late Venezuelan populist Hugo Chavez had a phrase he would use when elections and referendums didnʼt go his way;
Por Ahora
Roughly translated it means for now or for the moment. I have been thinking of that phrase ever since our own populist Mayor Gregor Robertson, announced in early January that he wouldnʼt be seeking re-election. Gregor said he was declining to run again in order to; “ …make space for new voices and leaders. “
Personally I am not much bothered by Gregor and his legacy as mayor. Despite having good intentions and the guidance of his Tide Foundation comrades, Gregor never solved this Cityʼs problems. Then again, what Mayor would have solved them? Kirk Lapointe? Meena Wong? Peter Ladner? Suzanne Anton? Marc Emery? Those were some of the other choices for mayor during Gregorʼs reign. What I do find amusing though is Gregorʼs departure from elected office after considerable soul searching with family. Sure. He isnʼt done politics. Given that between 1973 and the end of Gregorʼs tenure, there have been 7 other mayors, two of whom became premier, one became an MP one an MLA and one a Senator, Iʼd say Gregor will find some other political position. He is only leaving higher office por ahora.
So who is going to come sweeping into City Hall with “their fresh ideas and so
lutions? “A lot of names have been bandied about as future mayor but no one has mentioned a return of the greatest candidate ever; Vincent “ Mr. Peanut “ Trasov. Certainly the City would be no worse if Trasov dusted off his Mr. Peanut suit and ran for mayor like the time he did in the 1974 election and got 2600 votes, a ton of press, and the endorsement of Beat Generation poet William S. Burroughs. As to who may actually end up warming the big chair at 12th and Cambie, it is like coaching changes for the Canucks. Only a few of the names should be taken remotely serious.
The Early Scouting Report
Libby Davies:
A veteran East Van political warrior, Davies sat on City Council from 1982-1993 then graduated to the big leagues and represented Vancouver East in Ottawa from 1997-2015. With a fine taxpayer funded indexed pension, why ever would she want to get back into the contact sport of civic politics? Also she ran for mayor in 1993 and lost to Phillip Owen.
Don Davies (no relation to Libby):
He has been the MP for Vancouver Kingsway since 2008 and generally is the perfect politician. Meaning, he has not said or done anything stupid and quietly goes about his business. Why would he give that up so he can be harangued about a missed garbage collection or neighborhood parking?
Adrianne Carr:
Everyone in this City who makes even a minuscule attempt at recycling considers themselves Green. So why not Adrianne Carr, the Green Party City Councillor since 2011, as Mayor? Sure she seems nice enough, but she hasnʼt exactly been the tallest weed on City Council. I couldnʼt tell you one thing sheʼs said or done. Maybe Iʼm just not paying attention. But certainly one has to be a little skeptical about the Green Party given itʼs non-stand on the Site C project. Youʼd think a hugely expensive and environmentally questionable power project would be right up Greenʼs alley. Either way my preferred Green mayor would be Stuart MacKinnon on the Parks Board. He seems interested engaged sincere and occasionally wears a kilt.
Spencer Chandra Herbert:
A former Park Board member from 2005-2008, Chandra-Herbert has represented the West End as an MLA since 2009. Currently his talent is being wasted as a back bencher in Hulk Horganʼs government. If I was going to cash in my scavenged empties and donate to anybodyʼs campaign for mayor itʼd be Chandra-Herbert.
Hector Bremner:
I havenʼt figured out if this freshly minted by-election winner. Is he incredibly naive or way too enthusiastic? A former assistant to the BC Liberals own Jabba the Hut (Rich Coleman), Bremner ran as a Liberal MLA for New West in 2013 and lost. The beneficiary of low voter turn out and dissatisfaction with Vision in winning the recent City Council bye-election, Bremner claimed; “ Vision is done. “ Does this guy not watch sports? Doesnʼt he know you donʼt talk about the shutout mid-game and you never bad mouth the first place team? Bremner also claimed he would donate his councillorʼs pay to charity saying heʼd give it to; “ Whatever worthy cause. “
Raymond Louie:
Heʼs been a City councilor since 2002. Thatʼs right five terms. He also lost the Vision nomination for mayor in 2008 to Gregor. Iʼm sure Louie feels either heʼs part of the solution or not part of the problem.
Those are all the names of interest por ahora.
ILiveInEastVan.com 
It’s true. I do don a kilt on festive occasions…