The word just in -Vancouver Secondary Teachers union endorses the full COPE slate plus three Vision Candidates (going by COPE school board candidate Bill Bargeman’s facebook page two of those three Visionistas are long time parent activist Patti Bacchus and retired teacher and BCTF staffer, Mike Lombardi. One wonders whether the teachers went with daycare/childcare activist and gun advocate S.Gregson, or First Nations community activist Ken Clement.
From COPE candidate Bill Bargeman’s facebook profile (dated Friday, September 26, 2008)
Bill Bargeman
is thanking the VSTA Council for recommending the VSTA endorse me, Al Blakey, Jane Bouey, Allan Wong, Patti Bacchus and Mike Lombardi for School Board
This would suggest that VSTA is not endorsing Sharron Gregson or Ken Clement.
It should be noted that the VSTA membership voted to endorse individuals rather than slates. Individuals were endorsed based upon their backgrounds, experience, and individual stances on key educational issues, without regard for their party affiliation. That every candidate from a particular party was endorsed (or not endorsed)does not reflect that our organization favours one party or another. (our membership is diverse) We are confident that the individuals our members have chosen to endorse are principled advocates who will work tirelessly on behalf of public education and the children of Vancouver.
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