Independent candidate Debbie Tablotney has joined forces with the Richmond Education Party for the upcoming municipal election.
Tablotney’s move, although not officially joining the party, means there will be at least seven like-minded "progressive" candidates running for school board.
The party, which only formed last month, includes incumbent trustees Ken Hamaguchi and Sandra Nixon.
“Our aim is to give Richmond voters the opportunity to elect a team of seven candidates who represent a progressive stance and will move the district forward in a positive way,” the party said in a press release Friday afternoon.
Nixon, Hamaguchi and Tablotney are joined by four first-time candidates: minor hockey executive Jeff Danis, former district educational assistant Heather Larson, Richmond DistrictParent Association executive member Karina Reid and current Richmond District Parent Association vice chair Andrew Scallion.
Hamaguchi and Nixon were first elected as Richmond trustees in 2014 where they had both run as independent candidates. Tablotney has served as trustee for 14 years over four terms.
Among the party’s priorities are student safety and inclusion, including full support of the controversial SOGI policy.
