Greenspace Alliance Endorses Candidates For London Municipal Election in Oct. 2022

We sent out a press release today, listing the candidates we endorse for the upcoming election. A copy was sent to each of our endorsed candidates.

Greenspace Alliance Endorsements for London Municipal Election 

Greenspace Alliance is an environmental advocacy organization. We are dedicated to protecting greenspace and expanding forest canopy. In regard to the upcoming October 2022 election, We endorse the following candidates for London city council:

Ward 1: Hadleigh McAlister

Ward 2: Mike Yohnicki

Ward 3: Prabh Gill and Bob Wright

Ward 4: Matt Nicolaidis and Susan Stevenson

Ward 5: Connor Pierotti

Ward 6: Sam Trosow and Mariam Hamou

Ward 7: Corrine Rahman and Evan Wee

Ward 8: Steve Lehman

Ward 9: Anna Hopkins

Ward 10: Paul Van Meerbergen*

Ward 11: Skylar Franke

Ward 12: Alex Main

Ward 13: John Fyfe Millar

Ward 14: Steven Hillier

MAYOR:

For the office of mayor, we endorse the candidacies of Khalil Rhamal and Sean O’Connell.

Our sincere thanks to every candidate who took the time to talk with us.

Confirmed by Angus Johnson, Director Greenspace Alliance (greenspacealliance.ca)

* Paul Van Meerbergen is running for reelection. He did not meet with us, but sent an email saying that he endorses the goals of Greenspace Alliance. He voted to retain River Road when the issue first came up. He agrees that closing River Road Golf Course and allowing that asset to lose its value through neglect was “a big mistake”.

City Council Candidate Julie Reynolds From Ward 1 Meets With Greenspace Alliance

We’re Interviewing City Council Candidates

The point of Greenspace Alliance is to elect mayors and city counselors who understand the climate crisis and will make expanding greenspace and growing our tree canopy in London, Ontario a top priority.

To that end I am interviewing every candidate who will meet with me. I am asking each candidate the same five questions. My goal is to to see if a candidate’s goals align with that of Greenspace Alliance. Those whose goals align most closely with ours at Greenspace Alliance will receive our endorsement.

Not Every Candidate Has Responded

While I have contacted every candidate running in every ward, not every candidate has responded.

There is still time for candidates to respond to my invitations; so I am not ruling anyone out for our Greenspace Alliance endorsement at this point.

Before election day in October, I will issue a list of recommended candidates.  Until then, when I meet with a candidate, I will note it here. The post will, likely, be very brief. But, at least, voters will know a candidate cared enough about climate change to meet with me and talk about what we can do, as a city, to be part of the solution.

Julie Reynolds From Ward 1 Responded

One candidate who responded to my invitation and agreed to meet with me was Julie Reynolds from Ward 1.

Julie Reynolds is a Ward 1 candidate for London City Council.

I met with her on August 7, 2022. We discussed issues related to our city’s canopy forecast. She talked about her desire to prevent the sale of the property on River Road that was River Road Golf Course, and which is in her ward.

Although I am not endorsing her at this writing, our conversation showed that she appears to understand that the climate crisis is  serious and requires action from municipalities.

Julie seems to want to help guide London toward greater environmental sustainability. She seems to want to mitigate London’s contribution to the climate crisis and it sounds like she will be committed to expanding our greenspace. She certainly does not want London’s greenspace reduced by the city selling River Road.

Julie has a Twitter account in which she is trying to engage people about putting equity and accountability back into politics.

I liked Julie and enjoyed speaking with her. I look forward to hearing more from her and her campaign for the Ward 1 City Council seat.