Several independent candidates for Delta council are looking at joining forces in the hope of having a better chance of sending their messages to the electorate.
Peter van der Velden, Nicholas Wong, Jennifer Thoss, Johann Ackermann and Lori Mayhew are looking into running as a group of "like-minded independents."
It would be a somewhat similar to what can be seen by Mayor Lois Jackson's Delta Independent Voters' Association ticket as well as how councillors Bruce McDonald and Jeannie Kanakos ran together in the previous election, even though they all declared themselves as independents.
Wong told the Optimist the more he talks with the others who intend to file their candidacy for the Nov. 15 municipal election, the more they realize they have much in common when it comes to their ideas on development and other issues.
"It is kind of coalescing, it seems. At this point we are exchanging ideas and seeing if we can pool our resources in a fairly informal way," he said.
The independents believe they may have a better chance by pooling their resources in what can be an expensive undertaking. They also believe they may be able to better spread the word to the electorate that there are others in the community who have the skills and ideas to be worthy council members.
At this point, however, they are still exploring the idea of a potential collective, said van der Velden. Thoss agreed, noting they are discussing a number of good ideas in what could be an exciting effort.
Every incumbent on Delta council has now declared they'll run again. The only guarantee is that someone on the outside will get one seat with the spot formerly occupied by Delta North MLA Scott Hamilton now vacant.
As far as incumbents getting defeated, although it's not impossible, it doesn't happen often. Since the early 1990s, only two sitting councillors - Anne Peterson and Ann Claggett - have lost their seats.
