Councillor Peter Ladner's putsch continues. As reported earlier by The Vancouver Sun's Frances Bula, Mr. Ladner is looking to open up the Non-Partisan Association's mayoral nomination process, in part, so he can run against Sam Sullivan for that job. And now his campaign has launched a membership drive to "support Peter." This, according to an email sent by his membership coordinator Lisa Newby. The following is a complete copy.

Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:44:34 -0800
From: NPA Democracy
Subject: support for Peter Ladner needed
To: NPA Democracy

Peter Ladner's team needs your help. As you may know, the NPA board has changed its traditional practice of allowing the members to pick the best candidates in an open and democratic forum. The board has decided to protect all incumbent elected officials, including the Mayor, locking up their positions as NPA candidates in the next election, whereby those currently elected will automatically be on the ballot without having to go through a traditional nomination process against other interested candidates. This has been referred to by some as "the green light process". This is not fair nor democratic Peter is opposed to this essentially 'closed' process, and is appealing to the NPA Board to open up the nomination process for all interested candidates, be they currently elected or not.

To support Peter, he will need your vote at the NPA annual general meeting and at any subsequent nomination meeting. To vote, you will need to be a member of the NPA. To become a member of the NPA, you will need to:

* download a membership form from www.npavancouver.ca/pdf/npa-membership-form.pdf. , or we can have a form delivered to you via email, and if necessary, directly to your address;

* complete the form, including your signature and payment by cheque or credit card (cost is $20 for a one year membership, and $15 for youth and seniors) -- cash is not accepted and the referral information is not required; and

* fax the form to 604-661-9368 or scan the form and email it to peterladnercampaign@gmail.com .

Don’t forget to mark your calendars now for the NPA annual general meeting (to vote for an open nomination process):

NPA Annual General Meeting

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Venue: Heritage Hall (located at Main and 15th)
Time: TBA

To support Peter, it is critical that you attend the AGM and vote. In addition, you can support Peter by encouraging more people to join the NPA to vote for an open and democratic nomination meeting, Peter’s most immediate goal . I know Peter is extremely grateful for your support.

To be able to vote at the AGM and at any subsequent nomination meeting, all supports need to be signed and delivered to the addresses above no later than March 20th. For further information on the membership drive, you can reply to this email address (npademocracy@shaw.ca) or call me at 604-619-6951.

To subscribe to Peter’s newsletter or view information and opinions on current issues, visit his website at http://www.peterladner.ca/ .

Lisa Newby
Membership Coordinator
Peter Ladner Campaign