Sam Sullivan: Difference between revisions
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== 2005 Mayoral Race == |
== 2005 Mayoral Race == |
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Following the 2002 election disappointment, the [[Non-Partisan Association]] was forced to rebuild its slate. Several high-profile names were brought to the table for the NPA's choice of 2005 mayoral candidate. One of these names was that of former deputy-Premier of British Columbia [[Christy Clark]], who eventually did run to become the NPA's mayoral candidate. In what many hailed as a surprise victory, Sullivan defeated Clark in the NPA race, and went on to run for mayor under the NPA banner against several candidates, including former [[Coalition of Progressive Electors|COPE]]-member [[Jim Green]], who had defected from COPE to form his own slate, known as [[Vision Vancouver]]. Sullivan defeated Green by a narrow margin of 3,747 votes in the [[November 19]] 2005 Municipal election out of 130,000 cast ballots. Another candidate James Green (not to be confused with Jim Green the actual other candidate), who Sullivan knows and had contact with during the election, also ran in this election, gaining over 4,000 votes (Jim Green lost by about 3,500 votes). Many attribute Sullivan's win to the confusion created by two "Greens" running in the election. [http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/election2005/finalresults.htm]. Along with him, 5 other NPA councilors were voted into Vancouver City council chambers. Sullivan, hence, made history by becoming the first [[quadriplegic]] Mayor in Canadian history, if |
Following the 2002 election disappointment, the [[Non-Partisan Association]] was forced to rebuild its slate. Several high-profile names were brought to the table for the NPA's choice of 2005 mayoral candidate. One of these names was that of former deputy-Premier of British Columbia [[Christy Clark]], who eventually did run to become the NPA's mayoral candidate. In what many hailed as a surprise victory, Sullivan defeated Clark in the NPA race, and went on to run for mayor under the NPA banner against several candidates, including former [[Coalition of Progressive Electors|COPE]]-member [[Jim Green]], who had defected from COPE to form his own slate, known as [[Vision Vancouver]]. Sullivan defeated Green by a narrow margin of 3,747 votes in the [[November 19]] 2005 Municipal election out of 130,000 cast ballots. Another candidate James Green (not to be confused with Jim Green the actual other candidate), who Sullivan knows and had contact with during the election, also ran in this election, gaining over 4,000 votes (Jim Green lost by about 3,500 votes). Many attribute Sullivan's win to the confusion created by two "Greens" running in the election. [http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/election2005/finalresults.htm]. Along with him, 5 other NPA councilors were voted into Vancouver City council chambers. Sullivan, hence, made history by becoming the first [[quadriplegic]] Mayor in Canadian history, if that truly means anything. |
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== Work with the physically disabled == |
== Work with the physically disabled == |
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Revision as of 21:14, 18 January 2006
Sam Sullivan (1960-) is Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Sullivan was first elected to Vancouver City Council in 1993 as a member of Non-Partisan Association. With twelve years of council experience, Sullivan is currently the longest-serving member of the council.
Sullivan is fluent in English and can speak basic Cantonese and can read Chinese.
Sullivan as City Councillor
In Vancouver's 2002 General Local elections, Sam Sullivan was the only incumbant member of city council from the Non-Partisan Association to win re-election after the NPA-dominated council was defeated by the COPE.
In 2004, he took on the leadership of the 'no' side in the Vancouver wards referendum, opposing Mayor Larry Campbell and all COPE members of Council in opposing the new election system for Vancouver. The ward system was eventually defeated 54% to 46% by the citizens of Vancouver.
2005 Mayoral Race
Following the 2002 election disappointment, the Non-Partisan Association was forced to rebuild its slate. Several high-profile names were brought to the table for the NPA's choice of 2005 mayoral candidate. One of these names was that of former deputy-Premier of British Columbia Christy Clark, who eventually did run to become the NPA's mayoral candidate. In what many hailed as a surprise victory, Sullivan defeated Clark in the NPA race, and went on to run for mayor under the NPA banner against several candidates, including former COPE-member Jim Green, who had defected from COPE to form his own slate, known as Vision Vancouver. Sullivan defeated Green by a narrow margin of 3,747 votes in the November 19 2005 Municipal election out of 130,000 cast ballots. Another candidate James Green (not to be confused with Jim Green the actual other candidate), who Sullivan knows and had contact with during the election, also ran in this election, gaining over 4,000 votes (Jim Green lost by about 3,500 votes). Many attribute Sullivan's win to the confusion created by two "Greens" running in the election. [1]. Along with him, 5 other NPA councilors were voted into Vancouver City council chambers. Sullivan, hence, made history by becoming the first quadriplegic Mayor in Canadian history, if that truly means anything.
Work with the physically disabled
Besides being a politician, Sullivan is probably best known as an advocate for the physically disabled. Sullivan became a quadriplegic after he broke his neck in a skiing accident at the age of 19 in 1979. After a struggle with depression, he succesfully completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Simon Fraser University. Sullivan later founded six non-profit societies with the goal of improving the quality of life for disabled people in North America.
In 2005, Sam Sullivan was awarded Canada's highest achievement award by Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson. He was invested as a member of the Order of Canada for his community work on behalf of people with significant disabilities. Sullivan is the only sitting politician to have received this award.
Sullivan is currently a member of various groups promoting interest for the disabled:
- Member of the steering committee for the Central Library
- Vice President of the Metropolitan Board of Health
- founder of Blueways Program
- member of Tetra Society
- Disabled Sailing Association
- co-inventor of TrailRider, a one-wheeled vehicle
Besides the Order of Canada, Sullivan has also received the Terry Fox Award for national excellence and the Peter F. Drucker Award for Innovation.
He has been featured in Readers Digest and Maclean's.