The school board organization formed in 2018, whose two sitting trustees finished first and second in 2026
The Richmond Education Party is an elector organization registered with Elections BC for the Richmond School District only. It ran four candidates for School Trustee in 2026. Ken Hamaguchi, the board chair before the vote, had 19,477 votes, the most of any trustee candidate, and Heather Larson 18,086, second. Bill Mok and Martin Li were not elected. Its platform has five areas: students, safe and modern schools, inclusion and mental health, responsible governance, and partnerships that expand childcare.
WHO THEY ARE
About Richmond Education Party
Elections BC's Register of Elector Organizations by Jurisdiction, dated October 30, 2026, lists the Richmond Education Party for the Richmond School District, with no other names, and names Ken Hamaguchi as the authorized principal official.
The City's declaration of September 21, 2026 lists four Richmond Education Party candidates for School Trustee: Ken Hamaguchi, Heather Larson, Martin Li and Bill Mok. The City's official results of October 21, 2026 show Hamaguchi first with 19,477 votes and Larson second with 18,086. Mok had 10,332 and Li 10,250, thirteenth and fourteenth among 28 candidates.
Richmond News reported in September 2018 that six trustee candidates had formed the Richmond Education Party as a "progressive" slate headed by the sitting trustees Ken Hamaguchi and Sandra Nixon. The Richmond Sentinel reported that four of its candidates were elected in 2022: Hamaguchi, Larson, Debbie Tablotney and David Yang. In 2026 Tablotney and Yang ran with a new organization, Empower Education Richmond, and lost their seats.
Elections BC's scanned reports search lists disclosure statements from the organization for the 2018 and 2022 elections and annual financial reports for 2022 to 2025.
After the vote, Hamaguchi told Richmond News he does not expect major policy changes, that new trustees face a steep learning curve, and that trustees set aside their party labels after an election. The board's first meeting with the new trustees is on November 4, 2026.
THE TEN ISSUES
Where Richmond Education Party stands
Every party on this site is covered on the same four issues, so nothing is hidden by leaving a subject out. 1 of 4 have published policy behind them.
| Issue | Published position | Commitments |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Nothing published, checked October 30, 2026 | — |
| Budget | Nothing published, checked October 30, 2026 | — |
| Governance | Nothing published, checked October 30, 2026 | — |
| Schools | The Richmond Education Party's platform has five areas: high-quality instruction and supports for every student, safe and seismically sound schools with up-to-date technology, mental health, anti-racism and equity supports, transparent and fiscally responsible governance, and partnerships with families and community groups to expand childcare. Ken Hamaguchi's statement to the City names four focuses: students, inclusion and equity, staff, and facilities. | 6 |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
6 questions about Richmond Education Party
How many seats did the Richmond Education Party win in 2026?
Two of the seven. Ken Hamaguchi finished first with 19,477 votes and Heather Larson second with 18,086. Bill Mok and Martin Li were not elected. It held four seats before the vote.
Who leads the Richmond Education Party?
Elections BC's register names Ken Hamaguchi as its authorized principal official. Richmond News described the organization in 2018 as headed by Hamaguchi and Sandra Nixon. Its site names no leader.
Does the Richmond Education Party run candidates for City Council?
No. Elections BC lists it for the Richmond School District only, and it ran trustee candidates only in 2018, 2022 and 2026.
What does the Richmond Education Party promise for schools?
Five things: high-quality instruction and supports for every student, safe and seismically sound schools with up-to-date technology, mental health, anti-racism and equity supports, transparent and fiscally responsible governance, and partnerships that expand childcare. It gives no costs or dates.
Why did Debbie Tablotney and David Yang leave the organization?
voche.me found no account of the reason. Richmond News reported in August 2026 that both were running with a new organization, Empower Education Richmond. Both lost their seats.
Where can I see the Richmond Education Party's finances?
Elections BC's scanned reports search lists its disclosure statements for the 2018 and 2022 elections and annual financial reports for 2022 to 2025. The report on the 2026 election is due within 90 days after voting day.
Sources
A source marked SAYS SO ITSELF is the party's own material. It proves what the party claims, not that the claim is true.
- Register of Elector Organizations by Jurisdiction, as of October 30, 2026 Elections BC · published · checked
- Elector organizations: registration and financial reporting Elections BC · checked
- Financial Reports and Political Contributions System: local elections scanned reports search Elections BC · checked
- Declaration of Election by Voting, September 21, 2026 City of Richmond · published · checked
- Declaration of Official Election Results, October 21, 2026 City of Richmond · published · checked
- Candidate profile: Ken Hamaguchi, statement to the City City of Richmond · checked
- Candidate profile: Heather Larson, statement to the City City of Richmond · checked
- Richmond Education Party: home page, with its Vision and Who We Are sections SAYS SO ITSELFRichmond Education Party · checked
- Richmond Education Party: Ken Hamaguchi SAYS SO ITSELFRichmond Education Party · checked
- Richmond Education Party: Heather Larson SAYS SO ITSELFRichmond Education Party · checked
- 6 Richmond school trustee candidates to run in 'progressive' slate Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond election results in minimal change Richmond Sentinel · published · checked
- New school board chair, vice-chair elected in Richmond Richmond News · published · checked
- Slates, candidates vie for seats on Richmond Board of Education Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Votes - Column: Breaking down Richmond's school board candidates Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Votes: Five incumbents, two newcomers elected to Richmond school board Richmond News · published · checked
- Richmond Votes: Setting campaigns aside, Richmond trustees prepare for new term Richmond News · published · checked
Compare Richmond Education Party with the other five parties
Every party is covered on the same four issues. The comparison pages put them side by side, one issue at a time, with the source next to each position.