Peter Ladner did his best to put on a good face as the NPA was dealt one of its worst election night blows in years. Meanwhile, observers credited Vision Vancouver’s leadership on homelessness and its ability to mobilize union support as key factors in the party’s victory.

Addressing cheering Non-Partisan Association supporters at the Marriot Renaissance hotel, Ladner tried to appear optimistic in the face of crushing defeat. (According to preliminary results, Gregor Robertson won by almost 20,000 votes and the NPA only managed to elect one councillor, Suzanne Anton).

“Obviously the voters wanted a change,” Ladner said. “But we have nothing to be ashamed of. We delivered some very good results for the city of Vancouver.”

Ladner said he’s already contacted Robertson to wish the new mayor and his Vision-dominated council good luck.

Speaking to reporters after his concession speech, Ladner said he was “kind of relieved” the election campaign was over, though he found the results “extremely disappointing.”

Former NPA-turned-independent park board commissioner Allan De Genova blamed outgoing mayor Sam Sullivan’s unpopular leadership for damaging the party’s support. But he also credited Vision for drawing strong support from local, provincial and federal unions.

“The unions mobilized more than they ever did before,” said De Genova, who lost to Robertson in a heated leadership battle for Vision earlier this spring.

De Genova said Vision did a “marvellous” job of shoring up pre-election support. But he warned that Robertson will have to rely on the political experience of Vision councillors Raymond Louie and Geoff Meggs to keep the government afloat.

“Hopefully, they’ll get along internally,” De Genova said. “If not they’ll be gone in three years.”

NPA school board candidate Ken Denike – who appeared to win re-election – said Robertson was able to “take control” of homelessness as a campaign issue better than Ladner.

“People are really put off by homelessness, they wanted a solution,” Denike said, referring to Robertson’s pledge to end homelessness by 2015.

Asked if the controversy surrounding the Olympic village was a deciding factor, Denike said it wasn’t a bellwether issue.

“It had a lot of media interest, but it didn’t influence a lot of voters,” he said.

Margot Paris, NPA campaign manager for Michael Geller, said the party will be in for some serious soul searching.

“The NPA I think will go through a really important and necessary reconfiguration,” said Paris, speaking before results came in.

She said the centre-right NPA shares many sensibilities with Vancouver’s business community. Paris suggested the party must become more inclusive if it wants to remain a vibrant political force.

“We have to throw open the tent,” she said, referring to a need to attract candidates and support from a broad range of Vancouver constituencies. “There are some old school factors at work.”

Geoff Dembicki is a staff reporter for the Hook.