Vision Vancouver not running a mayoral candidate

Vision Vancouver will not be running a mayoral candidate in the upcoming municipal elections.

"This was a difficult decision, because we believe our chances would have been very good, but we believe this decision is the right decision for our city," Vision executive directorAnge Valentinisaid in a statement.

The announcement comes four days afterSquamishhereditary Chief Ian Campbellannounced in a statement that he would be exiting the race, a decision he acknowledged "may be a surprise to many."

The last-minute decision triggeredspeculation about whether Vision councillors Andrea Reimeror Heather Deal would choose to run.

In January, Mayor Gregor Robertson, who led a Vision Vancouver slate at city hall, announced he would not be running for re-election.

• ANALYSIS |Reimer? Deal? Nobody? Future of Vancouver's ruling party lacks vision as nomination deadline looms

Party may endorse another candidate

The statementsaid Vision will now undertake the formal process to decide whether to formally endorse anothercandidatebut did recognizetwo other candidates.

"Vancouver residents are fortunate to have two other excellent candidates for mayor in Shauna Sylvester and Kennedy Stewart and running another mayoral candidate at this late date creates too much risk that theNPAor one of the other right-wing parties would win and take Vancouver backwards," it read.

The party is running five candidates for city council, three candidates for school board, and two candidates for park board.

Voters go to the polls onOct. 20.

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