In 2010, a candidate's sexuality is fast becoming just a part of the whole package. That is, it's starting to be seen at the same level of whether the person is male/female, Christian/Muslim, native to Calgary or an immigrant. It's no longer such a novelty, it's just a small part of a candidate's personal history.
 
An Edmonton Candidate - Brendan Van Alstine

“He's young, he's gay...what else you got?”

Edmonton's Ward 7 is primarily inner city, and includes the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood, an area which historically has been a lower income, working class district. This area has seen increasing community-driven revitalization in the past few years and is becoming another destination neighbourhood for the arts community. Generally, this ward tends to be fairly progressive: provincially NDP, federally Conservative.

In the last civic election, under the six wards/two candidates per ward formula, both candidates were from either end of the political spectrum. 2010's civic election has changed the playing field – there are now twelve wards each with a single councillor. Another item of interest is the entry of someone who could, after October 18th, become the second gay man elected to council.

For a young man not even 30 years old, Brendan Van Alstine has been heavily involved in this community and the LGBT community. Among other things, he is the Youth Program Coordinator at the Pride Centre of Edmonton, a board member for the Alberta Avenue Community League, is a regular volunteer at the Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse, and in 2007 helped found the Transit Riders' Union of Edmonton, which advocates for improved transit in Edmonton.

However, in 2010, his sexuality seems to be a non-issue. “Pretty much no response whatsoever...people are a little less judgemental than you think they are,” Brendan puts it.  On one hand it's great to see such acceptance; alternately Brendan feels if this was an earlier time, he would have gotten more press from it. This almost blasé acceptance of a gay candidate is a significant change from when Michael Phair, the last gay man to be elected to Edmonton's City Council, ran in 1992.

When Phair ran in the old Ward 4 (essentially the dead center of Edmonton on both sides of the river), given the higher concentration of both educated voters and the GBLT community, it helped put him over the top. Logically it would seem like the new Ward 6 (the northern half of the old Ward 4) would be the safer choice for a gay candidate. Yet Brendan's choice was Ward 7, since, as he tells us, “I'm not running because it's a safe ward for a gay candidate, but I certainly think it is. I'm running because it's the area where I live.”

I did question him on the preconceived notion that younger voters, while more open to a gay candidate, don't come out to the polling station in the same numbers that older (and perhaps, more conservative) voters do. Brendan downplayed any generational divide, telling me, “There's a really large chunk of the population that's disengaged. If you do engage them you can win...Ultimately we're trying to appeal to as many different demographics,” whether this be seniors, ethnic groups, the LGBT community, youth, and so forth. Brendan noted in the last civic election only 27% of eligible Edmontonians voted – so an engaged electorate, especially one fired up by his ideas, could put him over the top if they like what they see and hear. Consequently, he is out and visible in the community – having knocked on over 3000 doors in this ward since he announced his candidacy a year ago.

Brendan is seen as a very strong contender – the feeling is it's not a matter of if he wins the seat, but when. So if he doesn't win this time, he will run again in 2013: “...that's one thing I've been encouraged to do.” At present, Ward 7 is a pretty tight race between him, Tony Caterina and Scott McKeen. It will be interesting to see what happens October 18th.

Visit Brendan Van Alstine's Website

A Calgary Candidate – Chris Harper

Chris Harper is running for Alderman of Calgary's north-west Ward 1. He has a strong business/community background which lends itself well to the position. He's been the Director of the Federation of Calgary Communities, has connections with the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and the Certified Management Consultants of Alberta. His career has seen him work with large organizations helping them identify inefficiencies and do more with what they already have.

At 29 years old, he's also part of a generation who grew up with society being more accepting of LGBT individuals. Chris's decision to discuss his sexuality with us came about because he decided it would be respectful for his supporters, the voters, and his partner: “I have to be fair to my partner Jarek of nine years, and I have to be fair to myself, and the community should know who I am.”

Not that it's ever been a big issue with the organizations he has partnered with in the past. For Chris, his sexuality doesn't really define him. He believes younger and older people accept that this is the way things are these days. “A lot of my ward colleagues and my friends know...for most younger families I don't think it makes a difference one way or another.” Whether a candidate is gay or lesbian, it doesn't have the stigma it once had. People care more about the ideas and how the person will work as an Alderman. “Perhaps my approach to problem-solving might be a bit different because of...the experiences I've had because of being gay, but I don't think this is the most important thing.”  

Chris is running in Ward 1, where Dale Hodges has served as Alderman for 27 years. This area is fairly diverse. On one hand you have inner city communities such as Varsity, Montgomery, University, and Bowness where most citizens have a middle class income range and may be more concerned with crime. Then there are the newer suburban subdivisions like Tuscany, Rocky Ridge, Valley Ridge, (etc.) where citizens have a higher income and their area of concern is traffic. This is a bit different from the neighbourhoods and people that Brendan Van Alstine is striving to represent in Edmonton.

While the safe bet is usually on the side of the incumbent, it is possible Hodges can be unseated. Chris' goal is to canvass 60% of all homes in Ward 1, and if the majority of voters feel Hodges has been part of the problem at City Hall, Chris Harper could add “Alderman” to his resume after October 18th.

Visit Chris Harper's Website