 | Friday, October 15, 2021
Reading this online? Sign up to get this delivered to your inbox every Friday. | | We asked every Metro Vancouver mayor if they were running again. Here's what they said. | | |  | | | The 2018 municipal elections in Metro Vancouver were noteworthy due to the majority of the region’s mayors not seeking re-election, creating wide open races in many communities and a huge change in political culture at many city halls overnight.
That will likely not be the case in 2022.
With local elections exactly one year away, we asked all 21 mayors in Metro Vancouver whether they were planning on running again. All but Port Moody’s Rob Vagramov, Maple Ridge’s Mike Morden, Pitt Meadows' Bill Dingwall and Bowen Island’s Gary Ander got back to us. Here’s what they said: - At this stage, nobody is not planning on seeking another term. This includes Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart, who in 2018 was fairly definitive his fourth term would be his last, but now says he’s considering seeking re-election in part because the pandemic made it difficult for him to accomplish some of his municipal goals.
- Unlike in the past, when mayors would often be cagey about their intentions, or wait until the summer to make an announcement, most are upfront that they’re planning to run again — including the leaders of the region’s four biggest municipalities: Vancouver’s Kennedy Stewart, Surrey’s Doug McCallum, Burnaby’s Mike Hurley and Richmond’s Malcolm Brodie (though he was somewhat more cagey). But they also include Delta’s George Harvie, New Westminster's Jonathan Cote, Port Coquitlam’s Brad West, West Vancouver’s Mary-Ann Booth, North Vancouver District’s Mike Little, Langley City’s Val van den Broek, Anmore’s John McEwen, Lions Bay’s Ron McLaughlin and Belcarra’s Jamie Ross.
Langley Township’s Jack Froese, North Vancouver City’s Linda Buchanan and White Rock’s Darryl Walker say they’re still deciding.
There are a few reasons for the change from 2018. Most of the mayors are in their first term, and it’s rare for politicians to step down after a single kick at the can. Many are in the same situation as Richard Stewart, itching to move forward on ideas for city building that had to take a back seat the last 19 months.
And the new local campaign finance rules, which put a cap on maximum donations per year and ban corporate and union donations, incentivize candidates to start running earlier so they have a longer period to raise money.
Things can always change in politics, of course. Four years ago Gregor Robertson claimed he would run for re-election in Vancouver, then changed his mind three months later.
But at this point, expect your 2022 ballot to look a bit more similar to the last municipal elections' than it did four years ago. | | |  | | | | | The only place in Metro Vancouver where a campaign has fully begun in earnest is Vancouver, where Ken Sim kicked off his 2022 campaign on Wednesday to a crowd of 400 people, under the banner of the new A Better City party.
He admitted that part of the reason he was starting so early was the campaign finance rules, which make it hard to raise large amounts of money in a short time frame.
"It's a good thing though, you take big money out of the equation,” he said, “but yeah, it's a lot harder."
Sim spoke to the crowd about investing in reducing crime, getting rid of an independent park board (and instead making it an appointed board, part of overall city governance, which would require a provincial change to the Vancouver Charter), and building a city where people can live 90 per cent of their lives within a 15 minute walk from their home.
What happens if that plan results in proposals for higher density in parts of the city that have traditionally spoken out against major changes?
Sim seemed to indicate it was an argument he was willing to take on.
"The reality is there are so many people coming into the region, if we do not look forward and build accordingly and build smart, traffic congestion is going to be through the roof."
Other candidates already in the race include park board commissioner John Coupar and political strategist Mark Marissen, with Coun. Colleen Hardwick also considering a run. | | |  | | | 1. Vancouver | | | But before the election there are many big issues the current council has to deal with, including setting a framework for the future of South False Creek. After years of consultation and negotiations, the city has put forward a proposal to triple the number of homes on site — but with a higher share of strata and market rental than currently in place.
Read more | | |  | | | 2. Victoria | There’s more to local elections in B.C. than Metro Vancouver, and earlier this week the Times Colonist did a roundup of where things stand in the Capital Region. The big takeaways: most mayors are running again, Langford’s Stew Young is once again going to wait to decide, and Victoria’s Lisa Helps is sticking to her vow of stepping down.
Read more in the Times Colonist | | | |  | | | 3. Surrey | We learned yesterday there is more than one investigation connected to an altercation between Mayor Doug McCallum and a group opposed to the city’s transition from the RCMP to an independent police force. But this one is being investigated by the RCMP, and is linked to a possible public mischief charge related to McCallum’s comments. Read more in Global News | | | | | |  | | | 4. Sooke | What do you do if the local newspaper writes a straightforward story about people attending council meetings, and you’re asked why you’ve missed 30 per cent of meetings in your term? Do you answer the question, ignore
it, or claim that you’re a drug addict and then criticize the reporter?
The answer may (or may not)
surprise you!
Read more in the Victoria News | | | |  | | | 5. Lytton | The town held another council meeting this week, with dozens of residents attending virtually, asking more questions on the progress (or lack thereof) and timeline for when they can return to the town. There were some answers, but it’s been more than 100 days since the catastrophic fire, and frustration will likely grow until a plan is made public.
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