The two-time candidate for Victoria mayor who came close to winning in 2005 said he has not decided whom to support in November's municipal election.

“We'll see how the campaign unfolds,” said Ben Isitt, who came within 1,400 votes of beating three-term mayor Alan Lowe. “The current mayoral race is uninspiring in my view.”

Neither Isitt nor Lowe is running again.

There are eight candidates for mayor, with the apparent favourites being two-term councillor Dean Fortin and business owner Rob Reid. Both are running as independents, though Fortin ran for councillor in past elections under the Victoria Civic Electors banner, a group alligned with the NDP. The VCE disbanded after the 2005 election.

“I'm not satisfied with how some of Dean Fortin's supporters disposed of the VCE,” said Isitt, who was the party's candidate in 2005. “I'm not satisfied by the right wing views of some of the business people supporting Rob Reid. That leaves me undecided at this point in the election.”

Isitt is postdoctoral fellow in the University of Victoria's history department and his funding does not allow him to hold a job other than teaching. He recently published a paper on housing and homelessness in Victoria.

Isitt's choice not to endorse anyone at this point will be seen by many in Victoria as a snubbing of Fortin's candidacy.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.