New West candidates move into the home stretch

As we move into the final week of the 2014 civic election campaign, we’ve got a few dates for you to jot down on your calendar.

* New West moms Briana Tomkinson and Natalie Lawy have organized a family-friendly school board all-candidates playdate (and Q&A) for Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon at Fraser River Discovery Centre.

* The Moody Park Residents’ Association is hosting an all-candidates meeting for mayoral and council candidates on Monday, Nov. 10 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the New Westminster Evangelical Free Church, 7895 Canada Way (just across the border in Burnaby). You can also watch this one online as it’s being streamed at NewWest.tv and on Twitter at @newwestdottv.

* Residents will be able to vote at 16 polls on election day, Nov. 15, but they can vote early at advanced voting that’s taking place on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the New Westminster Lawn Bowling clubhouse (710 Eighth St.) and Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the same location and city hall council chamber (511 Royal Ave.). Voting locations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mayors’ debate gets feisty

If you’re still deciding whom you’ll be supporting as New Westminster’s next mayor, you may want to tune into the Shaw Cable’s mayors’ debate

All four mayoral candidates – Jonathan Cote, James Crosty, Vladimir Krasnogor and Wayne Wright – attended the Nov. 4 debate. It was shown on Shaw Cable that evening but will be rebroadcast on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 10 p.m. You can also find it on YouTube by searching New Westminster Mayoral Debate Decision 2014.

New West resident Daniel Fontaine was on the debate’s panel.

“When it comes to interesting civic elections, New Westminster doesn’t take a back seat to any municipality in Greater Vancouver,” he said. “The fact we have an incumbent mayor running against a three-term city councillor, the race is bound to be interesting. Then throw in the mix another feisty candidate who came in second place last time around and this will be one of the places to watch on Nov. 15th.”

While mayoral candidates typically field questions at all-candidates meetings, it’s the first time in recent memory that they’ve squared off in a good, old-fashioned debate.

“It is clear from the televised mayoral debate that New Westminster voters have the option to choose from a wide range of candidates with different philosophies and approaches to governing. When you consider some municipalities are selecting their mayor by acclamation, our race can only be described as spicy by comparison,” Fontaine said. “There are clearly still a lot of people making up their mind as to how they are going to vote. But if the lawn sign war is any indication, Wright has a big fight on his hands.”

Surrey mayor endorses Wright

One of Metro Vancouver’s most well-known politicos has endorsed incumbent Mayor Wayne Wright in his bid for re-election.

While she’s not running in the 2014 election, Surrey mayor Dianne Watts is throwing her support behind Wright.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Mayor Wayne Wright over the past nine years,” she said in a press release from Wright’s campaign. “I have admired his tenacity and passion for his community and the people of New Westminster. Whether it’s regional transportation, the Pattullo Bridge, traffic congestion or keeping taxes low, you can count on Wayne to speak for the residents of New Westminster.”

Wright said he also has endorsements from Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, former member of Parliament for New Westminster Paul Forseth and Senator Larry Campbell.