2 — Wednesday, September 25, 1996 ~ North Shore News we NEWS photo Bred HOR on. ceccseccssceseeeee . Sharon Sy Municipal hopefuls seek endorsement from citizens group By lan Noble News Reporter . DURING the upcoming munic- ipal election campaign in West Vancouver, residents will receive a brochure from the West Vancouver Citizens for Good Government, a group that has been referred to as king-makers. In the brochure, the “good-govern- ment” group will endorse up to six coun- cil candidates, five school board candi- dates and a mayoral candidate. But will the brochure and the good- government endorsement help sway the average voter who doesn’t know much about local politics? Pat Boname, a West Vancouver coun- cillor who’s shooting for the mayor’s chair in the November election, has served four terms as councillor and one as school board trustec. She’s also a former member of the West Vancouver Electors Association — the good government group's predeces- sor. Boname says the group’s endorsement is “very, very helpful,” but it will take more than that to win the election. “If anybody asks for an endorsement and thinks they can cruise the rest of the JAMES POWNER Lawyer MAJOE PRASONAL INJURY sist Wishing Bout For World Peace Make Your Own Me~n Cake Lanter Design Competition Hand Crafted Lantern Exhibition Festival Cuisine Contest & Demonstration Karaoke Contest Logging Show Ice Sculpture Free Boat Cruise Archery Chinese Lion Dance Canton Opera Magic Shows Lots of Prizes Lots of Fun Free Chinese Movies Taekwondo Demonstration Fascinating performances by Famous Local and Hong Kong Singers Free initial Consultation way they are out of their minds,” she said. Coun. Andy Danyliu, who is still pon- dering a mayoral run, said he's never sought the group’s endorsement, but he’s received it in the past and accepted it. He doesn’t know if the endorsement helped his election chances. “fF don’t think anybody knows.” But, like all those endorsed, he did cough up a portion of the costs for the group’s brochure delivered to all West Vancouver households. “You have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” he said. “It was a no- strings attached offer to help. It’s really a no-brainer decision.” Whether the group’s endorsement helps or not, the West Vancouver Citizens for Good Government have a good record of supporting winners. In the 1993 election, the group endorsed 1] candidates and nine of them were elected. One of those endorsed who lost — Don Griffiths — had a heart attack early in the campaign and wasn’t able to campaign. Still, Griffiths says the group’s endorsement is important to candidates: “Anything that puts your name in every- body’s mailbox has got to help.” The average voter, he said, may know the mayor’s name, but would come up short. if asked to name two councillors. So the endorsement, Griffiths added, is really a matter of getting support from a membership that knows more about local politics than average voters. But Danyliu said not too much should be read into the group’s track record for Presemiing Live Comedy svery Saturday picking winners. He said the group neve seems to pick a long-shot, so it’s difficull to tell if their endorsement: makes candi dates winners. David Hall, one of the organization’§ 12 directors, said his group secks encourages, and endorses qualified candi dates for council, mayor and scho beard. “Our objective is to get good peopl to run for office,” he said. “Once they ard elected they are on their own.” 8 Hall called criticisms that the group i in effect a bunch of king-makers unfai He said the group’s 100 or so membe are interested in the political process an¢ want to see good candidates elected. The group started as the Wes Vancouver Electors Association in 1972 That organization collapsed in the 19 election, then was resurrected in thq 1990 campaign under its new banner. One month prior to elections, th group sponsors an all-candidates publi meeting. Candidates ‘secking th endorsement of the West Vancouve Citizens for Good Government are inter4 viewed individually and evaluated by thqf directors after the all-candidates meeting A follow-up “endorsation meeting’ open to members provides an opportuni ty for candidates to state their placforn and for directors to make their recom-K mendations. The general miembershipy then selects the candidates that will be™ endorsed by the group... - oa The group will hold its general mect -ing this Thursday (Sept. 26) starting’ ail 7:30 p.m. in the West Vancouver, Publi This Week Featuring Janice Ungaro from [4] 95 | FM Showtimes 8:45 & 10:45/$10 | oe coming next week Dean Higland, from the X-Files 1025 Marine Drive, North Vancouver 985-416! ~ | so) aes O50" 40" and lots more... Come va jain “a Tickets Available On Site Children Under 12 & Seniors Over 65 FREE * Admission $3 Brest © & ectnstet Be Seen NE SOUA aus ‘Tite & ain Barve a MUL Moser Cars (1992) bac. Ba itaren conden isd Front disc $m AS8 Rear drum extret) brakes Plus freon Complete system service using the latest environmentaily approved cquipment. This isn't a quick recharge! namie: for NeW. WH Kanga We build our own for “§ assured quality, faster service and North Vancouver