Vancouver mayoral candidate Pete Fry of the Green Party has declined to take part in a proposal by OneCity for a “progressive primary” leading up to the upcoming election.
OneCity’s mayoral candidate, William Azaroff, has urged Vancouver’s three left-leaning parties to unite behind a single candidate to enhance their chances of unseating Mayor Ken Sim.
However, Fry has rejected the offer, criticizing it for lacking collaboration with his caucus and COPE, the third progressive party, and for having rules that seem to favor Azaroff’s campaign.
Describing OneCity’s approach as “myopic and self-serving,” Fry expressed disappointment in how the proposal was unveiled without involving all progressive parties.
He specifically noted that the proposal, which he viewed as an “ultimatum,” stipulates that only registered members of the three parties are eligible to vote in the proposed primary. While OneCity recently conducted a membership drive with discounted $1 memberships, the Greens and COPE have not had similar campaigns.
Although acknowledging OneCity’s strong online presence and vocal supporters, Fry cautioned that online activity does not always translate to success in elections, citing the risk of creating an insular online community.
Fry emphasized his willingness to collaborate with other parties but insisted that any joint efforts must be conducted fairly and inclusively.