Vancouver mayor’s former chief of staff launches new political party in mayoral run

Vancouver’s next civic election is more than a year away, but Kareem Allam is already gunning for Mayor Ken Sim’s job.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s former chief of staff has started a political party in his bid to be the city’s next top politician.

Kareem Allam previously worked for Sim’s ABC party as a campaign manager, and credits himself for the party’s success in 2022.

He’s now vying for his former boss’s job, and is behind a new civic party called the Vancouver Liberals.

“I wanted to put my name forward because I’m not happy with the direction of the city,” he said.

“I think Vancouverites deserve a mayor that walks into city hall every day and asks themselves one simple question: ‘How am I going to make things better in the City of Vancouver?’ And right now, I don’t think that’s happening.”

‘Oppose the decampments’

Allam said he considers himself centre-left, but intends to recruit candidates further to the left and right.

“Voices that are going to oppose the decampments, oppose supportive housing bans, oppose getting rid of integrity commissioners while being under investigation from integrity commissioners,” he said, referencing decisions Sim has supported in his nearly three years in office.

“I want voices that are going to stand up for a democratically elected park board.”

Legal battle

Allam left his position at city hall only a few months after Sim came to power.

He’s now involved in a lawsuit with Sim, who has accused Allam and real estate developer Alexander George Tsakumis of making “false and defamatory” statements about the mayor.

The statements in question relate to an alleged incident in which Sim was supposedly caught driving drunk by Vancouver police, who let him go without citing him for any offence.

• Read more: Responses filed to Vancouver mayor’s defamation lawsuit

Will opposition councillors run?

CTV News asked each opposition councillor whether they’re thinking of running for mayor.

The only councillor to hint at it is long-time Green City Coun. Pete Fry.

“A day doesn’t go by that people don’t ask me if I am,” he said.

“It’s a conversation I have to have with my wife and my team. Certainly, (I’m) flattered by the interest. I haven’t made anything close to a decision on that one, but certainly considering it.”

The next municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 17, 2026.