WATCH: Victoria’s incoming council will feature “Together Victoria,” a progressive slate of three councillors, but some are concerned about the impact of a slate on governance.
Victoria’s incoming council will feature “Together Victoria,” a progressive slate of three councillors, but some are concerned about the impact of a slate on governance.
Sharmarke Dubow is one of the slate’s candidates (all three of whom won).
After the inauguration on Nov. 1, 2018, Dubow will be Victoria’s first black city councillor since the 1800s.
“It’s really important because, as a community, we are changing, as a community, we are growing, and [having] the city hall… reflect the community it represents makes me grateful, and I look forward to representing everyone in Victoria,” Dubow said.
The former refugee ran as part of a progressive slate of three called “Together Victoria.”
They were featured in campaign emails alongside incumbents Ben Isitt and Jeremy Loveday.
They were also seen celebrating their wins together.
“I think it was a very astute strategy to differentiate [and] brand the new folks under a banner and have the incumbents who are already there not be seen as part of that slate. That’s good politics. My concern is, it may not lead to good governance,” said outgoing councillor Chris Coleman.
“We need good, deep, respectful discussion to go on before we make decisions for our communities. And as we narrow the number of schools of thought around the table, I think there’s a concern.”
Other councillors also shared resources in a similar manner, mailing flyers in the same envelope, for instance.
Dubow says Together Victoria had a separate campaign manager and that his vote is his own.
“I’m independent,” he said. “There are sometimes we might vote differently, completely.”
Calvin To
