Edmonton municipal political party unveils partial list of candidates

We just had the federal election, but in six months, Edmontonians will head to the polls to pick city leaders. And the city’s newest municipal political party is unveiling its partial list of candidates Monday.

“First it was taxes, then it was safety, and now it’s the zoning bylaw that has Edmontonians really upset,” said Sheila Phimester, the president of PACE.

Principled Accountable Coalition for Edmonton (PACE) is a municipal political party, and was newly allowed under provincial Bill 20, which creates a variety of new changes to Edmonton’s city election process.

PACE unveiled some of their candidates who will be running in Edmonton’s ridings Monday morning, saying work is continuing to fill all spots, as well as a mayoral candidate.

“I wouldn’t say that we’re centre-right or centre-left, I think we’re just a bunch of concerned Edmontonians that want to make sure that the city is run properly,” said Albert Mazzoca, a PACE candidate for Ward Dene.

The creation of political parties at the city level received pushback from Alberta’s municipal leaders when the legislation was tabled late last year. Those running for PACE told CityNews on Monday that they’re hoping Edmontonians will come around to the idea by simplifying the voting process.

“There were 120 people that ran for city council in the last election, that’s about 10-11 people in each ward. I guarantee you don’t know the names of anybody besides the people that were actually elected,” said Rob Fediuk, a PACE candidate for Ward Anirniq.

PACE is not the only municipal party, so far. Earlier this month, current city councillor and mayoral candidate Tim Cartmell officially launched his mayoral campaign under ‘Better Edmonton.’ That party is officially launching later this week.

But those planning to run as independents in the upcoming civic election say they’re worried about the financial advantage party candidates will have, as well as the potentially contentious nature of party politics coming to city hall.

“It’s so unproductive, so repetitive, it’s really, really hostile, and I hope it will not be the same. It will be a different manifestation at the municipal level, but I’m really worried with the increase of polarization these days, that it will delay more productive conversations and decisions,” said Giselle General, an independent candidate for Ward Sipiwiyiniwak.

Monday at City Hall, councillor Anne Stevenson, who is running for re-election in October, told CityNews she rejects party politics at City Hall.

“Partisan politics has no place in local democracy, I’m really saddened to see that the province introduced that, and there are some folks who are taking that opportunity up. I’m hopeful that Edmontonians will understand the value of the system that we have and choose accordingly,” said Stevenson.

Edmonton’s election is set for October 20.