Don Iveson

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Don Iveson
Don Iveson
Member of the Edmonton City Council for Ward 5
Incumbent
Assumed office 
October 15, 2007
Serving with Bryan Anderson
Preceded by Bryan Anderson, Mike Nickel
Spouse Sarah Chan
Alma mater University of Alberta
Profession Non-profit manager

Don Iveson is a Canadian politician and a municipal councillor in Edmonton.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Don Iveson grew up in Edmonton and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta in 2001.[1][2] While there, he served as managing editor of the Gateway, the university's student newspaper.[2] He did the last year of his degree on exchange at the University of Toronto, and stayed in Toronto upon his graduation to serve as president of the Canadian University Press for a year.[1][2] Two years as business manager of the Gateway followed before he took a job as advocacy director with the University of Alberta Students' Union.[1][2] There, he played a leading role in negotiations with the City of Edmonton for the development of a Universal Transit Pass for University of Alberta students.[1][2] He left the position in 2007, and entered politics shortly thereafter.[2]

[edit] Political career

Iveson first sought political office in the 2007 municipal election, when he ran for the Edmonton City Council in ward 5.[3] Both of the ward's incumbents, Bryan Anderson and Mike Nickel, were seeking re-election.[4] His campaign stressed improved transit services, densification of housing, and increased affordable housing,[3][5] and won endorsements from former councillors Larry Langley, Janice Melnychuk, Michael Phair, and Gene Dub, and members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Don Massey and Raj Pannu.[6] In a result that media sources called the election's biggest surprise, Iveson finished more than two thousand votes ahead of Nickel (although more than one thousand behind Anderson) to capture the ward's second council seat.[4]

After taking office, Iveson was assigned the environmental portfolio by mayor Stephen Mandel.[2] In this capacity, he attended the 2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia (at a cost of $3,181.20, for which he was cricitized by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation).[7][8] He has also endorsed a municipal tax on plastic bags and a reduction of cosmetic pesticide use,[9] although he stopped short of endorsing the ban called for by the Canadian Cancer Society.[10]

In response to the news that municipal spending would necessitate larger than normal property tax increases in 2008 and 2009, Iveson expressed support for maintaining levels of spending, saying that he was "tired of this city cheaping out".[11]

[edit] Personal life

Iveson is married to Sarah Chan, a music teacher.[1][2] He is an avid sailor, and once taught the sport at Lake Wabamun.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Don Iveson campaign biography. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Don Iveson biography, City of Edmonton. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
  3. ^ a b c "Survey Says: Don Iveson", Edmonton Journal, September 20, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  4. ^ a b "Newcomer Iveson knocks Nickel out of the ring", Edmonton Journal, October 16, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  5. ^ Don Iveson platform. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
  6. ^ Don Iveson endorsements. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
  7. ^ Diotte, Kerry. "Taxpayer group slams Edmonton Coun. Don Iveson for hypocrisy in taking $3,181 trip to Bali for climate change conference", Edmonton Sun, January 22, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  8. ^ Hicks, Graham. "Don't Defend Don Iveson's Trip to Indonesia, says Reader", Edmonton Sun, January 26, 2008. 
  9. ^ Waugh, Neil. "Council must sack this bag-ban idea", Edmonton Sun, April 25, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  10. ^ Thomas, Nicki. "Call to ban pesticides for that perfect lawn", Edmonton Sun, May 23, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  11. ^ "Tax hikes on the way for 2009, Edmonton council warns", Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, May 29, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.