Don Iveson
| His Worship Don Iveson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Iveson during the 2013 mayoral election | |
| Mayor of Edmonton | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 29, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen Mandel |
| Member of the Edmonton City Council | |
| In office 2010–2013 | |
| Preceded by | New ward |
| Succeeded by | Michael Walters |
| Constituency | Ward 10 |
| In office 2007–2010 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Nickel |
| Succeeded by | Ward abolished |
| Constituency | Ward 5 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 30, 1979 Edmonton, Alberta |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Chan |
| Children | Dexter Iveson[1] Alice Iveson |
| Alma mater | University of Alberta |
| Occupation | Non-profit manager |
| Signature |  |
| Website | www.doniveson.ca |
Don Iveson (born May 30, 1979) is a Canadian politician and Mayor of Edmonton.
Early life
Don Iveson grew up in Edmonton's Parkallen neighbourhood, the only child of Margaret, an education professor at the University of Alberta, and Bob Iveson, a sculptor.[2] As a child, Iveson loved books, both fiction and non-, reading C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower series by seventh grade.[2] He was also active in scouting and debate.[2] He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Alberta in 2001.[3][4] While there, he served as managing editor of The Gateway, the university's student newspaper.[4] 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.[3][4] Two years as business manager of The Gateway followed before he took a job as advocacy director with the University of Alberta Students' Union.[3][4] 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.[3][4] He left the position in 2007, and entered politics shortly thereafter.[4]
Political career
Iveson first sought political office in the 2007 municipal election, when he ran for the Edmonton City Council in ward 5.[5] Both of the ward's incumbents, Bryan Anderson and Mike Nickel, were seeking re-election.[6] His campaign stressed improved transit services, densification of housing, and increased affordable housing,[5][7] 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.[8] 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.[6]
After taking office, Iveson was assigned the environmental portfolio by mayor Stephen Mandel.[4] In this capacity, he attended the 2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia. 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] He later clarified that he was referring principally to needed infrastructure investment. He advocated a more progressive taxation scheme that better matched household impact, possibly substituting more stable fee-based revenue for property taxes that were subject to variation based on fluctuating property value.[12]
On June 18, 2013, Iveson announced that he would run for the mayoral seat in the 2013 municipal election, as Mayor Stephen Mandel had announced he would not seek a fourth term. In October Iveson won with 61.88% of the vote,[13] and was sworn into office on October 29, 2013.[14]
Personal life
Iveson is married to Sarah Chan, a music teacher.[3][4] He has a son named Dexter and a daughter named Alice.[1] He is an avid sailor, and once taught the sport at Lake Wabamun.[5] He is also a fan of Star Trek and Arcade Fire.[2]
In 2011 Iveson appeared in a video promoting the Edmonton Transit System with Edmonton-based singer Colleen Brown, who performed "Happy Love Song" on a bus.[15]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Nomination day, the great leveller". Edmonton Journal. Septebmber 21, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gregoire, Lisa (September 2008). "Rookie of the Year". Avenue Edmonton. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Don Iveson campaign biography". Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "Don Iveson biography, City of Edmonton". Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Survey Says: Don Iveson". Edmonton Journal. 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ruttan, Susan (2007-10-16). "Newcomer Iveson knocks Nickel out of the ring". Edmonton Journal.
- ↑ "Don Iveson platform". Archived from the original on 2008-03-15. Retrieved 2008-03-15.
- ↑ "Don Iveson endorsements". Archived from the original on 2008-03-15. Retrieved 2008-03-15.
- ↑ Waugh, Neil (2008-04-25). "Council must sack this bag-ban idea". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ↑ Thomas, Nicki (2008-05-23). "Call to ban pesticides for that perfect lawn". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ↑ "Tax hikes on the way for 2009, Edmonton council warns". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
- ↑ "Councillor Connection: Clarifying past comments". Edmonton Examiner. 2008. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
- ↑ "Don Iveson elected Edmonton's next mayor". CBC News. 2013-10-21. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2013-10-22.
- ↑ "Don Iveson is sworn-in as Edmonton's new mayor". CBC News. October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ↑ Tiedemann, Emil (November 4, 2013). "E-Clip/ November 2013". I Heart Edmonton. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
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