Garden City readers, astute and otherwise, will remember the bizarre spectacle that was "Canadian socialist politician" Ben "Che" Isitt's bid to unseat Alan Lowe. Nominated as the Victoria Civic Electors mayoral candidate over the objections of slate leaders, Mr. Isitt's campaign was completely independent from the one run by the party's council hopefuls - featuring its own platform and office space. And it looks like the post-election period has done little to bring these two solitudes together.

In an open letter published in the November/December edition of the The Lower Island News, Mr. Isitt gives his "thanks to all those New Democrats who supported my efforts as the NDP candidate for Mayor of Victoria...With enthusiastic support from the NDP grassroots and a dozen unions, we raised $31,000 and ran a strong campaign." Who knew the civic electors had changed their name to the New Democrats?

The former mayoral candidate then goes onto note Green candidate "Sonya Chandler's success winning a seat on city council shows that electoral victory can be achieved by running on principle, with a strong environmental platform and the backing of organized labour." One can only think Mr. Isitt simply forgot about the two civic electors hopefuls who also won council seats - Dean Fortin and Pam Madoff. The following is a complete copy of Mr. Isittt's letter.

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Open letter from mayoralty candidate Ben Isitt

2005 campagin was important step on road to social justice, environmental stewardship

Thanks to all those New Democrats who supported my efforts as the NDP candidate for Mayor of Victoria. Your generosity and hours of hard work on the doorstep helped shift the agenda to the left - and nearly won the mayorlty.

On November 19, we received 7298 votes to 8690 votes for the Liberal-backed incumbent. With 44% of the vote across the city, we won 60% in Fernwood and 51% downtown. At the Fairfield New Horizons seniors' centre in Cook Street Village, we received 880 votes to 954 for the incumbent. With enthusiatic support from the NDP grassroots and a dozen unions, we raised $31,000 and a ran a strong campaign.

New Democrats are known for diversity and debate, and this campaign was no exception. The challenge now is to look ahead to the future, and work together to ensure a unified effort in 2008 that will secure a majority on city council, school board and at the CRD - and elect a progressive as mayor.

Victoria needs more cooperative and non-profit housing; our region needs sewage treatment and rapid transit; working people need good-paying unionized jobs and expanded social services; our community needs vibrant public spaces, support for festivals and the arts, and a strong local economy that leaves no one behind.

Sonya Chandler's success winning a seat on city council shows that electoral seat on city council shows that electoral victory can be achieved by running on principle, with a strong environmental platform and the backing of organized labour. We can learn something from Chandler's success. Victoria will benefit if we support her efforts as a newcomer on city council.

It has been an honour to serve as your NDP candidate for Mayor of Victoria. Those of us on the left are no strangers to defeat, and we understand the changes we desire are not achieved overnight. Nonetheless, this 2005 campaign was an important step on the road to social justice and environmental stewardship.

With your help, we will organize for victory in 2008.