r/abbotsford • u/Sierra93 • Sep 13 '26
Abbotsford Municipal Election Tracking Spreadsheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jkUbG0pf1YsZfdmw48pUeAJnUPUY9NEOgk9xrIcs3lU/edit?gid=0#gid=0I've started to create a spreadsheet that tracks all the candidates that are running in this municipal election.
It is still in development and is meant to give people an understanding of who is running, why they are running, who they are, their history, platform, websites, socials, etc.
Please feel free to leave helpful comments. This will take a lot of work to complete so if you have helpful comments feel free to leave them.
19
u/Barbarella_39 Sep 13 '26
What school trustees are responsible or not responsible for… many promises are made for things they have no control over. Like curriculum or anti bullying or religious beliefs in schools…
2
1
1
15
u/Jacksworkisdone Sep 13 '26
Thank you for posting this!
Mayor Sukhi Dhami - NDP ?- only noted candidate that mentions cleaning up Abbotsford '
I'm so happy to see a good candidate for Mayor!
'City Growth (Infrastructure and amenities gap), long term flood mitigation, Shake the "no-fun" city branding (Better rec, events, arts and entertainment, nightlife), balance that with cleaner safer neighbourhoods'
---------------
Looks like Shirley Wilson is the only serious contender for Council having fundamental knowledge of governance (how government works), working with Unions, Administration and Community needs.
Really Les Barkman has had years to know all the inner workings of Abbotsford and is sometimes the only voice of reason at the table.
If you are planning on voting - and I really hope that you are - please stop voting in conservative Christian or Sikh religious factions, Abbotsford could really benefit from a new voice at the table. Plus there is already a Federal one that is non existent.
Key issues:
Flood mitigation/ working with the US on this and climate change.
Homelessness, poverty and addiction issues.
The never ending illegal garbage dumping and general avoidance of cleaning up/landscape of Abbotsford.
5
u/Icy_Independence_819 29d ago
And recreation infrastructure investment. We are years behind where we should be for a City this size. We are losing small businesses and tourism dollars due to our lack of recreation events and facilities - families leave the City every weekend to access rec elsewhere, and take their dollars with them. Family doctors don't want to settle here as readily as other Cities, due to our lack of amenities. Our ER is clogged - we need people getting out, being active and healthy, keeping kids away from crime, and drawing young professionals/businesses to our City = invest in Rec!
12
u/crypticshiit Sep 13 '26
Chad Cowie has been posting in local Facebook groups today….. And when people point out that most of his platform is items that are entirely decided at the provincial level, he just said “I’m not responding to comments”.
Here’s his Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1UsHd9JTiP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
9
u/Sierra93 Sep 13 '26
Oh I've seen it. He's getting a "Not Serious Candidate" evaluation.
2
u/mastermoge 10d ago
Dave Pellikkan should also have this label
2
u/Muddy-Fraser 9d ago
Yes, didn't show for debate tonight. Fail!
1
u/mastermoge 9d ago
Oh man, I was looking forward to him once again co-opting that one jfk quote he knows 🙄
2
6
u/BlazingImp77151 Sep 13 '26
Looks like if anyone mentioned anything about it on his page, he's gone in and removed it. Most of what I'm seeing there is comments responding to him positively.
But it's hard to tell, he spammed out a bunch of posts and most didn't get any (visible) comments at all.
7
u/crypticshiit Sep 13 '26
What I saw was in the ABBOTSFORD NEIGHBOURS (all caps like that) group on Facebook, thankfully seemed most people were commenting to tell him that A) what he was proposing was provincial, and B) that he should probably hire someone to make a poster instead of pumping out AI graphics.
Based on a Facebook search his mom is doing some heavy lifting when it comes to promotion. If his views are anything like what’s on her page, yoikes.
5
4
5
u/LostRoutine5718 Sep 13 '26
Benjamin Mehrer ran in the byelection we just had for the open school trustee seat.
3
5
u/alaynabear Sep 15 '26
This is so helpful! I was just today worrying about how I was gonna find everyone to start researching.
3
u/Canuck_Puck777 Sep 13 '26
Simon Gibson was on was first elected to Abbotsford council in 1979, and served continuously until 2013 when he became an MLA.
13
u/Sierra93 Sep 13 '26
Sounds like he needs to retire.
9
u/alantrick Sep 13 '26
I used to carpool with Simon almost 20 years ago. I though he had early dementia then. I'm surprised he still remembers how to breath.
He definitely knows how to work a room and tell people what they want to hear.
1
u/Apprehensive-Tea-295 5d ago
He tried to quote a famous sport coach in his opening statements at the Rec debate and got the team wrong. It was so cringey.
5
u/NateFisher22 Sep 16 '26
Half of the council seems like they are in their 70’s at least. Like, let someone else take over ffs. People love power
2
u/Sierra93 Sep 16 '26
Simon has a quote saying he was gonna not run this election but people told him he was doing a good job and needed to keep going. I think those people are all also above the age of 80.
4
u/alaynabear Sep 15 '26
I've met him a few times. Homie is OLD. Friendly for sure, but I remember I met him at a random public event, and he talked about himself the whole time... mostly about how he used to teach communications at UFV. For radio.
2
2
u/Icy_Independence_819 29d ago
The info on Patricia Driessen serving from 1980-2010 is incorrect. She has only served one term (elected 2022). She's only 39 years old. (And is the only incumbent who should be re-elected in my opinion!)
1
2
u/Savings_Parsley8010 26d ago
Thanks for doing this! This will be very helpful for residents to check out what their new city council can do for them.
1
u/Savings_Parsley8010 26d ago
Looks like Doris Woodman-McMillan is the only one with a strong financial background. She has 26 years of running a bookkeeping firm here in Abby. Need someone that will look at those numbers.
2
u/eclectically- 8d ago
it seems to not be well known, but mike rauch has a very conservative/catholic worldview
https://www.abbyschools.ca/news/trustees-white-rauch-centured
4
u/canadian_rockies Sep 13 '26
This is interesting. The subjective parts could go. Like "are they serious". That's a little nebulous.
One thing I'd think of adding: look at their nomination papers and list their assets and liabilities. I think that's really telling of the various candidates and how much of their own "success" (or failure) they bring to the table.
4
u/BlazingImp77151 Sep 13 '26 edited Sep 13 '26
I think the "seriousness" thing is useful, but it needs clarification.
Like if someone put forth their candidacy but hasn't really said anything or made their positions clear, then they aren't treating this seriously and it should be noted (though it's probably a bit early to tell, given campaigning starts on the 19th). And the person mentioned in a thread up above who is promising things he can't do also should have something indicating that (though maybe not calling him unserious?).
But it's also somewhat unclear what the column means with just a yes/no answer. What you listed would probably be more useful information.
At least the sheet is in comment mode, so hypothetically we can comment more information to be added?
2
u/Sierra93 Sep 13 '26
No one is leaving comments yet :(
2
Sep 16 '26
[deleted]
1
u/Sierra93 Sep 16 '26
Will do
1
1
3
u/Sierra93 Sep 13 '26
I hear ya. I’ll play around with it. Everyone should be doing their own research and using this more of a guide to find information.
4
u/canadian_rockies Sep 16 '26
You're doing good work. It's important to spread info that informs democracy.
2
u/Icy_Independence_819 29d ago
Abbotsford Recreation Advocacy has been pushing hard to bring awareness to how far behind our City is in terms of recreation infrastructure. Many candidates are now listing this on their platform, but the question is - is it genuine? You should connect with them to get their standpoint. Check them out on instagram: abbyrecadvocacy. They've put in a ton of work meeting with Councillors and Candidates over the past year.
2
1
u/Jacksworkisdone 29d ago
Dave campaigned on this to get elected and it looks like not a lot was accomplished.
1
Sep 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
1
u/Sierra93 Sep 17 '26
So I looked him up on CSO. Has a bunch of Municipal Bylaw stuff and one unlawfully sell liquor. Is there something missing?
1
1
1
u/AnitaVaykay 10d ago edited 10d ago
Mayoral and Council candidates question period from Oct.4th: https://www.youtube.com/live/gJJM7GxsLfE?si=2mo11bsbfZvbv9U3 As far as I know Skully White, Thomas Votik & Matthew Cavacece absent, but audio kicks in @ 32:50. P.s. Thanks for spreadsheet and your initiative, love it!
1
1
18
u/Afraid_Example1052 Sep 13 '26
This is amazing! I was just saying today that I have so much homework to do on all the Abby candidates and you’ve given us all a jump on our research. Super grateful, thank you! 😊