Former Non-Partisan Association supporter and federal Conservative constituency association president D.J. Lawrence is urging his friends to take out Vision Vancouver memberships in support of Allan De Genova mayoral nomination bid. In an email sent yesterday, Mr. Lawrence writes, "rest assured, I DO NOT SUPPORT THE VISION SLATE, just Al, and a select couple of NPA and Vision candidates...I know Al reasonably well, I have associates that have worked with him over the long term both in and outside of politics (and still think well of him!), and I know he has the support of many people whose opinion I respect including many in senior positions with Vancouver Police." The following is an edited copy of that email.

From: "DJ Lawrence"
Date: March 17, 2008 11:39:23 PM PDT (CA)
To: "DJ Lawrence"
Subject: Allan De Genova campaign launch

Dear Friends,

I know, nobody does politics, but before you delete this, consider:

how the mayor decided against his own experts’ advice to hire 63 Police Officers, hired 17, and expected us to believe the letter from the federal government saying they couldn’t fund his request for the remainder somehow sat on his fax machine from 9 AM until the council meeting that night!

how the NPA lowered their membership cost from $25 to $20 (big spenders!) while all other parties manage to get by on $10 or less, but this isn’t really to keep out the “east side” vote…

Yes, that thumping sound is the sound of anyone who knows me realizing I’m supporting a “left of center” candidate for once in my life! Al doesn’t really fit any profile, he is honest, hard working, compassionate, pragmatic, not dogmatic, and has a variety of great ideas from across the political spectrum. He can work with anyone, for the good of our city. I don’t know about you, but I’m fed up with the likes of Sam, and with parties that wouldn’t know the common person if we kicked them in the head! But rest assured, I DO NOT SUPPORT THE VISION SLATE, just Al, and a select couple of NPA and Vision candidates which will give us the balance we need to solve the major issues that face us, and provide real leadership going into 2010 instead of the laughing stock Sam or Gregor would provide us.

You have the opportunity to help choose who will run for the parties competing in this November’s city elections. I hope you will consider joining whatever of the civic parties you may support, and exercising your right to help choose good candidates. My regrets to Peter Ladner, a fine man who would also make a fine mayor, I just can’t get behind his party right now…

I am supporting Al De Genova in his bid to be nominated at the mayoralty candidate for the Vision Vancouver party. I know Al reasonably well, I have associates that have worked with him over the long term both in and outside of politics (and still think well of him!), and I know he has the support of many people whose opinion I respect including many in senior positions with Vancouver Police.

I hope you will come out to Al’s campaign launch, and that you will consider taking out a membership in order to vote for Al as the Vision Vancouver mayoralty candidate. The deadline to become a member has not been announced yet, but is expected to be the end of April.

Yours truly,

DJ Lawrence