Candidate Comparison Matrix
Where each Victoria 2026 candidate stands relative to the framework. Scan the rows, see the gaps. A snapshot β the race evolves.
β Back to the frameworkHow to Read This
Every score is backed by a public source: voting record (council minutes, major-outlet reporting), declared platform, or direct public statement. Where no public position exists, the cell is marked silent rather than guessed. Silence is not opposition.
The Field at a Glance
| Candidate | Office (2026) | Overall alignment |
|---|---|---|
| Marianne Alto | Mayor (re-election, declared May 20) | Method opposed (no ZBB, benchmarking, or dashboard); some measures adopted (regional policing, land bank) |
| Jeremy Caradonna | Councillor (re-election) | Tactical alignment on housing supply, cooling bylaw, VicPD restraint; opposed on method |
| Matt Dell | Councillor (re-election) | AI consultation imagery (M53b absorbs his Beacon Hill precedent); supports line-by-line budget review and housing supply |
| Dave Thompson | Councillor (re-election) | Vision Zero advocate (Hoboken benchmark); aligned on cooling bylaw + housing |
| Susan Kim | Councillor (undecided) | System critique aligns; vacancy control + STR + accessibility ideas absorbed into v1.1 |
| Krista Loughton | Councillor (undecided) | STEP motion now Measure 11; high overlap on Housing-First throughput |
| Chris Coleman | Councillor (June/July decision) | Framing alignment ("governance over politics"); chairs Citizens' Assembly Committee |
| Stephen Hammond | Councillor (re-election) | Public record on enforcement, FOI-driven data, and the Integrity Commissioner is consistent with the framework |
| Marg Gardiner | Councillor (re-election) | Public record on ZBB, fiscal rigour, and the Integrity Commissioner is consistent with the framework's method |
| Melissa Cseszko | Council (declared May 12) | Public framing β "results over ideology," small-business + accountability β is consistent with the framework |
| Karen Rothe | Council, declared | Stated lane: transportation and urban planning |
| Wendy Bowkett | Council, declared | Stated lane: trust and governance |
| Arthur McInnis | Council, declared | Stated lane: transparency and governance quality |
| Del Manak | Not running (declined April 15) | Listed for context; not a 2026 candidate |
| Stephen Andrew | No 2026 signal | Family-doctor incentive plank absorbed into M13b |
As of May 26, 2026: six incumbents declared for re-election (Alto, Caradonna, Dell, Thompson, Gardiner, Hammond); three sitting councillors undecided (Coleman, Kim, Loughton); four new candidates declared (Cseszko, Rothe, Bowkett, McInnis). Where a candidate has not made a public statement on a specific measure, the cell is marked silent rather than guessed.
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | 12,000+ homes by 2030 with composition targets: 25% missing middle, 20% 3BR+, 15% non-market, 30% rental. Quarterly reporting on each. |
| Alto | π‘ "Unlock more homes"; committed to volume; no published composition targets or quarterly reporting |
| Caradonna | π‘ Drafted Sept 2023 Missing Middle overhaul; volume-focused, no composition targets |
| Dell | π‘ Strong volume advocate ("7000+ units approved this term"); no composition discipline |
| Thompson | π‘ Pro-supply; eliminate parking minimums; no composition discipline |
| Kim | π‘ Non-market/co-op emphasis; aligns on the 15% non-market target |
| Loughton | π‘ Pro-supply; STEP addresses throughput, not construction composition |
| Coleman | β Voted NO on Missing Middle (process objections) |
| Hammond | β Voted NO on Missing Middle |
| Gardiner | β Voted NO on Missing Middle; demanded MNP governance review first |
| Cseszko | βͺ No public position on volume; "results over ideology" frame consistent with composition discipline |
| Rothe / Bowkett / McInnis | βͺ No public position on file |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Published targets by category (simple <6 weeks, complex <6 months, rezoning <9 months); AI pre-screening on Kelowna KAI model; one-stop centre; quarterly variance reports |
| Alto | βͺ No published permit-time benchmarks in three years in office |
| Dell | π‘ "Bad governance is the failure to make a decision" β process critic, no specific mechanism |
| Hammond / Gardiner | π‘ General "reduce red tape" posture; no specific benchmark mechanism |
| Cseszko | π‘ "Predictability, order, and trust" frame consistent with benchmarks; no mechanism declared |
| Others | βͺ No public position on file |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | STR licensing tightening (M9b), vacancy-control-between-tenancies advocacy (M9c), 26Β°C maximum-temperature rental bylaw (M64) |
| Caradonna / Dell / Thompson | β Co-authors of the May 2026 cooling bylaw motion (26Β°C, New Westminster precedent) |
| Kim | β Vacancy control between tenancies + AirBnB licensing (2022 planks); conceptually ahead of the 2026 motion |
| Alto | π‘ Rent banks; rental support motion 2026; no STR tightening or heat bylaw position |
| Loughton | π‘ Renters' Hub support; no STR or heat bylaw position |
| Others | βͺ No public position on file |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | 50% reduction via Housing-First plus STEP-style throughput (Loughton motion absorbed); capacity-first enforcement (M35); 89% regional burden flagged for fair-share advocacy |
| Loughton | β STEP motion originator (Jan 2026); Measure 11 absorbs her work directly |
| Thompson | β Co-author Coordinated Access & Assessment downtown prioritization (June 2025) |
| Hammond | β Daytime sheltering ban author (July 2024, 8-1); capacity-first sequencing aligns |
| Gardiner | β Five Pillars approach β conceptually aligned with phased CSWB |
| Alto / Caradonna / Dell | π‘ CSWB supporters; Alto admits "took nearly a year" before safety focus, raided reserves for Phase 1 |
| Kim | π‘ Pro-supportive-housing; lone NO on July 2024 daytime sheltering ban |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Adaptive traffic signals (Pittsburgh SURTRAC, phased pilot); Vision Zero β50% by 2030 (Hoboken benchmark); first-hour free parking; Westshore E&N advocacy; federal SUV hood-height advocacy |
| Thompson | β Hoboken Vision Zero benchmark cited publicly; eliminate parking minimums; e-bike rebates |
| Dell | π‘ Pro-bike; AI consultation imagery for park redesigns (model for M53b) |
| Rothe | π‘ Transportation/urban-planning lane β most aligned of the four new challengers; specifics pending |
| Alto / Caradonna / Kim | π‘ Pro-transit/bike generally; no adaptive-signal commitment |
| Others | βͺ No specific public position on file |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Extend to 6 AM β 10 PM, 7 days/week (current: 7 AM β 4 PM). Funded from M15 managed-competition savings, not new tax |
| Hammond | β "Enforce existing bylaws consistently"; daytime sheltering ban author; FOI-driven data |
| Gardiner | β Pro-enforcement; opposed Dowler Place process |
| Cseszko | β Safety as "predictability, order, and trust"; downtown business-owner perspective |
| Alto + progressive bloc | π‘ CSWB added 12 bylaw staff; same hours; 80% of time consumed by encampments |
| Bowkett / McInnis | π‘ Trust and governance lane consistent with enforcement focus |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Unified VicPD + Bylaw + Public Works sanitation + Outreach. Single daily briefing, weekly metrics, single field supervisor per shift |
| Loughton | β Coordinated Access & Assessment downtown prioritization β operationally similar |
| Hammond | β FOI-driven enforcement model methodologically close to DPOT data architecture |
| Gardiner | β Five Pillars framework |
| Alto + bloc | π‘ CSWB has elements but no unified-command operational structure |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Full LED + IoT (Kelowna $1M/yr, Halifax $5M/yr precedents). No audio surveillance, no behavioural AI, no facial recognition. Self-financing in 3β4 years |
| Alto | βͺ Current LED conversion budgeted $150K, delayed by supplier issues. No IoT, no surveillance position |
| Entire field | βͺ No public position on streetlight modernization or surveillance posture |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | 4-year service-consumption funding formula with Esquimalt; binding mediation if no agreement; Greater Victoria Regional Policing Services Review |
| Alto | β Regional policing consolidation named in May 2026 platform (significant new plank) |
| Caradonna | π‘ Sponsored the VicPD 2026 ask cut (4β2 patrol officers); not regional consolidation |
| Thompson / Kim / Loughton | π‘ Voted YES on Caradonna's VicPD ask cut |
| Coleman / Hammond / Gardiner | π‘ Voted NO on the ask cut (full police ask supporters) |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Strict heritage design standards; restore distinctive street furniture; restoration incentives; cultural-venue preservation tool β right-of-first-refusal + lease-bridge fund (absorbing Hermann's response) |
| Dell | β Hermann's Jazz Club preservation advocate (motion absorbed into M46b) |
| Cseszko | β "Protecting what makes the city unique: heritage, charm, historic buildings, and local businesses" |
| Caradonna | π‘ "More like a miniature London or Paris than a miniature Vancouver or Manhattan" |
| Gardiner | π‘ Pro-character / pro-heritage tone |
| Others | βͺ No specific public position on file |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | 50% community GHG by 2030 (19 pts to go from β31%); 26Β°C maximum-temperature rental bylaw (New Westminster precedent); Climate Friendly Homes uptake publication |
| Caradonna / Dell / Thompson | β Co-authors of the 2026 cooling bylaw motion; climate advocates |
| Kim | β Conceptually ahead of the 2026 motion; climate advocate |
| Alto | π‘ Climate Leadership Plan supporter; Climate Friendly Homes uptake not published |
| Others | βͺ No specific public position on file |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | v1.3 restructure: GIS + utility data modernization ($400β800K capital); AI consultation imagery as a permanent measure (continuing Dell's Beacon Hill precedent); one-time LIDAR scan ($150β250K). Full Digital Twin demoted to Year 3+ aspiration |
| Dell | β AI public consultation imagery pioneer β Beacon Hill All-Weather Field proposal (CHEK, 2025) |
| Rothe | π‘ Urban-planning background β most likely of new challengers to engage on visualization tools |
| Entire field | βͺ No public position on GIS modernization, LIDAR, or digital twin |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Glide path: Y1 β€6.5%, Y2 β€5%, Y3+ ~3.5% (CPI + growth). Funded by rotating zero-based budget reviews (Calgary SAVE model). Supermajority + public explanation to exceed cap |
| Gardiner | β "Introducing rigour into budgeting" β single most framework-aligned line from any sitting councillor; voted NO on every increase |
| Hammond | β Voted NO on every annual tax increase; opposed 2026 budget |
| Kim | β Voted NO on 2026 budget ("the system itself is just flawed") β critique from the left |
| Cseszko | β "If a program is not delivering results, push for it to be reviewed and adjusted" β program-review posture compatible |
| Alto | β Three consecutive years above-inflation (6.15 / 7.93 / 6.99%); 10.44% draft. No ZBB, no efficiency program |
| Caradonna / Dell / Thompson / Coleman / Loughton | π‘ Voted YES on the 2026 budget; varying degrees of stated reservation |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Competitive bidding for waste collection and street cleaning. Phoenix managed-competition model with employee protection (80% re-hire floor). ~$2.4M/yr savings, funds extended bylaw hours without raising tax |
| Alto + progressive bloc | β No public consideration; progressive bloc generally opposes outsourcing; Labour Councilβendorsed candidates committed against P3s |
| Coleman / Hammond / Gardiner | βͺ No public position; consistent with fiscal-restraint posture |
| Cseszko / Rothe / Bowkett / McInnis | βͺ No public position on file |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Quarterly public dashboard: permits, potholes, 311, crime, housing, budget variance. Plain language. Weekly safety dashboard separately (M31) |
| Gardiner | β Monthly fiscal newsletter β closest analogue to M67 |
| Cseszko | β "Oversight, transparency, and performance" β frame-aligned |
| Bowkett / McInnis | β Trust and governance-quality lane is consistent |
| Hammond | π‘ FOI-driven enforcement data publication concept aligns |
| Alto | β No quarterly dashboard; salary/benefits share not publicly reported in accessible form |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Binding referendum on every new (non-lifecycle) capital project over $25M. 5-step process: consult β expert design β public visualization & analysis (AI imagery + GIS) β referendum β quarterly progress reports |
| McInnis | β Law background, transparency lane, and active engagement on the E&N Roundhouse rezoning |
| Cseszko / Bowkett | β Accountability + trust/governance frame aligns |
| Full council | π‘ Crystal Pool YES (Feb 2025); no general $25M threshold position. Coleman/Gardiner strongest process critics of Dowler Place |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Arm's-length Integrity Commissioner office (shared-service viable); MNP governance report implementation tracker; annual public caseload report |
| Gardiner | β "MNP recommendations should be addressed before further major decisions" β most explicit advocate on council |
| Coleman | β "Council has been drifting away from the principles of good governance" |
| Hammond | β Council-conduct accountability advocate |
| McInnis / Bowkett | β Law and trust-governance lanes are consistent with this measure |
| Alto | βͺ MNP report not implemented during three years in office |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | 60 randomly selected residents (30 per municipality), 12β18 months, binding referendum question drafted by the Assembly itself, both councils pre-commit to honour the result |
| Coleman | β Chairs Victoria's Citizens' Assembly Council Committee β the existing council body M81 builds on |
| Alto | π‘ Committee exists but not framed as binding |
| Others | βͺ No specific public position on file |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Quarterly downloading ledger + formal advocacy resolutions + published refusal threshold (services the City will not assume without indexed funding) |
| Alto | β Names downloading as 2026 tax hike driver ("more serious discussion about sources of income for local governments") |
| Caradonna | β Caledonia Place regional motion ("city for too long has done it all") |
| Dell / Thompson / Loughton | π‘ Province-blaming present in framing |
| Kim | β "System itself is just flawed" β structural critique of municipal taxation |
| Coleman | βͺ No specific downloading frame |
| Hammond | β "People are expecting us to do things in which the province and the feds have the ability to spend and go into debt for" (CBC) |
| Gardiner | β Strongest critic of city absorbing Island Health / BC Housing roles |
| Cseszko | π‘ Frame-aligned |
| Rothe | π‘ Provincial civil-servant background brings direct experience with the downloading question |
| Bowkett | βͺ |
| McInnis | π‘ Law background and governance lane are consistent with a structural critique |
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framework | Standing quarterly working tables with Songhees and Esquimalt leadership. Published meeting summaries with Nation approval. Five foundation measures (G2G, procurement standard, place names, cultural protocols, urban Indigenous liaison) |
| Alto | β lΙkΜΚ·ΙΕΙn place-naming, longhouse funding, language app β strongest sitting-councillor record on host-Nations relationship |
| Progressive bloc | π‘ Pro-reconciliation; no specific G2G cadence mechanism |
| Others | βͺ No specific public position on file |
Where the Framework Stands Alone
Measures with zero direct analogue on the current field β the cleanest differentiators.
| Measure | Closest field position | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| M7 β Permit benchmarks + AI pre-screening | None publish benchmarks; Dell process-curious | MAX |
| M15 β Managed competition for waste/cleaning | None propose it; CRD contracts blue-box recycling | MAX |
| M19 β Adaptive traffic signals (SURTRAC) | Thompson cites Hoboken Vision Zero generally | MAX |
| M30 β Smart LED + IoT streetlights | Current LED conversion delayed, not smart-connected | MAX |
| M30 β Explicit no-surveillance posture | No candidate has taken a public position | MAX |
| M53c β One-time LIDAR scan of downtown | None propose | MAX |
| M78 β Codified 5-step process | No candidate has codified all five | MAX |
| M10 β Transparent algorithmic housing-waitlist | None propose | MAX |
| M53 β GIS / utility modernization | Dell uses AI imagery for park ideation | HIGH |
| M65 β Rotating zero-based budget reviews | Dell line-by-line; Gardiner names the principle | HIGH |
| M66 β Tax glide path (Y1 β€6.5% β Y3+ ~3.5%) | Gardiner/Hammond/Kim oppose increases generally | HIGH |
| M67 β Quarterly performance dashboard | Gardiner's monthly fiscal newsletter is closest | HIGH |
| M74/M77 β $25M referendum threshold | Crystal Pool was a one-off precedent | HIGH |
The Current Administration β Track Record vs Promises
A focused comparison of the Alto council's 2022β2026 record against the framework's specific commitments.
Fiscal record
| Measure | Alto council record | Framework commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Property tax | Four consecutive years above inflation: 6.15 / 7.93 / 6.99% / 7.28% final (10.44% draft) | Glide path: Y1 β€6.5%, Y2 β€5%, Y3+ ~3.5% |
| Operating budget | +29% in 3 years ($297.9M β $384.1M draft) | Match CPI + population growth at steady-state |
| Efficiency program | Zero modern efficiency tools deployed | 5 distinct programs delivering $7.8β12.5M/yr |
| Performance reporting | No quarterly KPI dashboard | Quarterly dashboard with named KPIs (M67) |
| CSWB Phase 1 funding | Funded by raiding reserves ($2.5M + $4M + $1.5M) | Operating-savings funded; reserves untouched |
| VicPD per-capita cost | Highest of any municipal force in BC at $750/resident | Service-consumption formula + regional review |
Housing record
| Measure | Alto council record | Framework commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Missing Middle delivery | 61 permits in 2024 against target of 150; 3 applications in first 6 months | Composition discipline: 25/20/15/30 split |
| Family-sized housing | 56 apartments built for every 1 townhouse (CMHC) | 20% of new units as 3BR+ (M6) |
| Development cost charges | +258% increase; new ACCs Oct 2025 further chilling builder economics | Targeted DCC reductions for purpose-built rental (M8) |
| Permit benchmarks | None. Black box | Published targets by category + variance reports (M7) |
| Homelessness spending | $25M spent 2023β2025, no published outcomes; $11M encampment damage repair | STEP throughput + capacity-first + outcome metrics (M11) |
Process and trust record
| Measure | Alto council record | Framework commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Dowler Place | Confidential draft motion disclosed via FOI; "we knew what the comments would be." Apologized | 5-step process (M78) β the exact antidote |
| Community safety timeline | "Took nearly a year before council's focus turned to community safety"; CSWB not endorsed until June 2025 | Day-0 DPOT launch (M26); week-1 KPI dashboard (M31) |
| MNP governance report | Not implemented during three-year term | Integrity Commissioner + MNP tracker (M79b) |
| Consultation feedback | No standard for response; many consultations end without published response | 60-day published response standard (M79) |
| Climate Friendly Homes uptake | Not published despite being a flagship program | Annual publication of uptake numbers (M58) |
Public safety record
| Measure | Alto council record | Framework commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown business confidence | 48% would consider leaving if their lease expired (DVBA 2025) | DPOT + extended hours + capacity-first (M26, M27, M35) |
| Commercial vacancy | 10.7% historical high Feb 2025; Arq Salon (28 yrs) closed due to disorder | Cut to 5% via M71 |
| Bylaw enforcement hours | 7 AM β 4 PM; 80% of officer time consumed by encampments | 6 AM β 10 PM, 7 days/week (M27) |
| VicPD vacancy | 50β55 officers short (13% vacancy) | Regional policing review (M29b); funding formula (M29) |
| Safety perception | 59% feel safe downtown daytime (was 83%); 22% at night (was 35%) | Weekly safety dashboard (M31); β15% crime by 2030 (M32) |
Candidate Profiles
Full alignment detail per candidate. Sources cited inline in the master record.
Marianne Alto β Mayor, declared May 20, 2026
Background: Incumbent, 55.5% of vote in 2022. Tagline: "Experience that delivers."
Agrees with the framework on: regional policing consolidation (M29b absorbed her plank); permissive tax exemptions for not-for-profit clinics (2022, still undelivered, absorbed into M13b); city land bank (2022); rent banks; faΓ§ade improvement grants; provincial downloading frame (M70b); lΙkΜΚ·ΙΕΙn place names + cultural protocols.
Diverges on: No ZBB in three years (budget grew 29%); no published permit benchmarks; no managed-competition consideration; no quarterly dashboard; no Integrity Commissioner / MNP implementation; Dowler Place process ("we knew what the comments would be"); CSWB Phase 1 funded by raiding reserves.
Distinctive Alto ideas worth considering: permissive tax exemption for purpose-built rentals; family-doctor incentives at scale; tax relief for community-serving groups; co-located firehall + housing + health-services civic infrastructure.
Jeremy Caradonna β Councillor, declared Dec 21, 2025
Background: First to declare. Topped polls 2022 with 14,238 votes. CRD vice-chair.
Agrees on: Missing Middle overhaul mechanics (his Sept 2023 drafting); sponsored the VicPD 2026 patrol-officer cut (4β2) as progressive fiscal restraint; co-author cooling bylaw (M64); Caledonia Place regional fair-share motion with Hammond (M70b).
Diverges on: managed competition; no published permit benchmarks; no quarterly dashboard; YES on overall 2026 budget.
Notable quote: "Victoria will likely look more like a miniature London or Paris than a miniature Vancouver or Manhattan."
Matt Dell β Councillor, declared Dec 31, 2025
Background: 13,899 votes in 2022. 15 years drafting policy for BC government.
Agrees on: cooling bylaw co-author (M64); AI public consultation imagery pioneer (Beacon Hill All-Weather Field β directly absorbed as M53b); Hermann's Jazz Club preservation (absorbed as M46b); strongly pro-housing volume; annual line-by-line budget review.
Diverges on: managed competition; pro-budget-growth framing differs from the glide path; no permit benchmarks; no quarterly dashboard.
Notable quote: "The epitome of bad governance is the failure to make a decision."
Dave Thompson β Councillor, declared
Agrees on: Hoboken Vision Zero benchmark cited publicly β same peer-city evidence the framework uses; co-author cooling bylaw; co-author Coordinated Access & Assessment downtown prioritization (June 2025); eliminate parking minimums; e-bike rebates; YES on Caradonna's VicPD ask cut.
Diverges on: managed competition; YES on 2026 budget (different framing than the glide path); no permit benchmarks.
Distinctive idea now absorbed: federal SUV/truck hood-height advocacy β now M42b.
Susan Kim β Councillor, undecided
Status: No 2026 declaration as of May 26. Director of Operations, Fernwood NRG.
Agrees on: Voted NO on 2026 budget from the left ("the system itself is just flawed"); vacancy control between tenancies (2022, absorbed into M9c); AirBnB licensing tightening (2022, absorbed into M9b); non-English grant applications (2022, absorbed into M80b); reduce parking minimums.
Diverges on: managed competition (committed against P3s); lone NO on July 2024 daytime sheltering ban (vs. M33).
Krista Loughton β Councillor, undecided
Status: No 2026 declaration. Award-winning documentary filmmaker.
Agrees on: STEP (Supporting Tenants, Enabling Pathways) motion (Jan 2026) β absorbed directly into M11. Single best individual idea on the council table; co-author Coordinated Access & Assessment; Renters' Hub; flagged "the staggering cost of our current direction" honestly.
Diverges on: managed competition; YES on 2026 budget; no permit benchmark mechanism.
Chris Coleman β Councillor, undecided (June/July decision)
Status: First elected 1986. Seventh term if he runs. Chairs Victoria's Citizens' Assembly Council Committee.
Agrees on: "Governance not politics" framing β directly compatible with "0% ideological, 100% pragmatic"; chairs the Citizens' Assembly Committee that M81 extends; process-integrity advocate; NO on Dowler Place; "tax lift is too high personally."
Diverges on: NO on Missing Middle (process objections); YES on 2026 budget; aligned with Alto on VicPD funding.
Stephen Hammond β Councillor, declared
Background: Law degree (Osgoode Hall). Campaign manager: Jack Boomer.
Agrees on: Daytime sheltering ban author (July 2024, 8-1, aligns with M33); FOI-driven enforcement data (surfaced ~24% of 2022 police calls came from 19 addresses β M28b absorbs this); security-cost compensation motion (revived as M28b); 30m drug-use buffer zones (restored as M33b); Integrity Commissioner advocacy; voted NO on every tax increase.
Diverges on: NO on Missing Middle; NO on Caradonna's VicPD ask cut (full police ask supporter).
Guiding philosophy: "The job of council is not to run the city, but to ensure the city is run well."
Marg Gardiner β Councillor, declared
Background: B.Sc. Chemistry, M.B.A. Public Management.
Agrees on: "Introducing rigour into budgeting" β the single most framework-aligned line from any sitting councillor; Integrity Commissioner / MNP advocate; monthly fiscal newsletter (closest precedent for M67); voted NO on every tax increase; NO on Dowler Place.
Diverges on: NO on Caradonna's VicPD ask cut; NO on Missing Middle (process before policy); no explicit managed-competition position.
Most aligned quote: "The annual budget ritual that we follow is fundamentally flawed and no one seems to care. There is no serious thought given to introducing rigour into our budgeting process."
Melissa Cseszko β Council candidate, declared May 12, 2026
Background: Born and raised in Victoria. Small-business owner on the 600-block Fort Street. Platform site: melissacseszko.ca
Public positions consistent with the framework: "results over ideology" framing; "predictability, order, and trust" safety frame (M27, M33, M26); program-review-and-adjust budget posture (M65); "oversight, transparency, and performance" (M67); heritage preservation (M43, M46, M46b).
In her own words: "As a small business owner, I'm a pragmatic problem solver. I believe in collaboration, accountability, and focusing on results over ideology."
Karen Rothe β Council candidate, declared
Background: Lives in Vic West. Provincial civil servant. Stated lane: transportation and urban planning.
Lane is consistent with framework measures on: M19 (adaptive signals), M22 (Westshore RT + E&N corridor), M23 (RapidBus), M53 (GIS modernization), M70b (provincial-downloading ledger). Where no public position is on file for other measures, the matrix is marked silent.
Wendy Bowkett β Council candidate, declared
Background: Long-time Victoria resident with a construction-industry small-business background. Stated lane: trust and governance.
Lane is consistent with framework measures on: M67 (quarterly dashboard), M79b (Integrity Commissioner), M77 + M78 (referendum threshold and 5-step process), M65/M66 (zero-based budget reviews and tax glide path), M27 (extended bylaw enforcement hours).
Arthur McInnis β Council candidate, declared
Background: UVic law professor (former Vancouver lawyer), roughly 15 years in Victoria. Active in the Victoria City Hall Forum; engaged on the E&N Roundhouse rezoning in Vic West. Stated lane: transparency and governance quality.
Lane is consistent with framework measures on: M77 + M78 (referendum threshold and 5-step process), M79b (Integrity Commissioner), M67 (quarterly dashboard), M81 (Saanich Citizens' Assembly), M70b (provincial-downloading ledger), heritage protection.
In his own framing: "Returning Victoria to world-class status" β an international-comparison frame consistent with peer-city benchmarking.
Del Manak β NOT running (confirmed April 15, 2026)
Listed for context. 35 years policing (9.5 as Chief). His withdrawal leaves the centre-right mayoral lane unfilled. January 2026 framing: "When you don't have endless money and citizens don't have the ability to continue to pay these tax amounts, then it's incumbent on local government to consider what they should cut back on."
Stephen Andrew β No 2026 signal
Listed for context. Former councillor 2020β2022; 2022 mayoral candidate; 2024 BC Conservative candidate. No public 2026 municipal signal. 2022 ideas absorbed into v1.1: family-doctor incentives + permissive tax exemptions for not-for-profit clinics (M13b).
Methodology & Caveats
Scope and time-stamp. Current as of May 26, 2026 β 144 days before the October 17, 2026 election. Nomination doesn't open until September 1. Several candidates are undecided. Positions will shift.
Scoring approach. Each cell reflects the most recent public position found in voting record, declared platform, or direct public statement. Where reporting is contradictory, the most recent on-the-record source wins.
Why silent is not opposed. A candidate not having taken a public position is not the same as opposing it. Treating silence as opposition would be a false negative.
Why this matrix is framework-anchored, not neutral. Rows are framework measures; scoring is against framework positions. This framework is the only platform in the field with ~100 specific, costed commitments β there is no other framework with that density to anchor against. The explicit purpose is to show where the framework stands alone on a specific mechanism. Readers seeking a different anchor are invited to draft one; this framework is open.
This document is open to correction. Spot an error in scoring, a misread of a public position, or a position that has evolved? Write to info@acitythatworks.ca. Revisions are dated and published.