[NEWS] “Rabble-rouser” and citizen of the year Patrick Johnstone seeks seat on council

New Westminster’s 2013 Citizen of the Year Patrick Johnstone is hoping to make 2014 the year he gets elected to city council.

Johnstone has announced he will be running for a seat on city council in the Nov. 15 civic election. He believes he has the skills to be an effective councillor and to bring forward new ideas and to be a strong voice at the council table.

“I have been pretty outspoken on a variety of issues in New Westminster. During the campaign, I am going to be having some conversations with residents and businesses about some of the key issues,” he told The Record. “I can pick a few: our role in the regional transportation system is always part of the conversation. I want to talk about how we can build a smarter, more resilient city, and I want to talk about how we can keep the city affordable and accessible to families of all sizes and types as we continue to face pressure from growth and pressure on our infrastructure.”

Johnstone is no stranger to civic election campaigns, having served as a moderator at all-candidates events in past elections. While he’s regularly chatting with community members about local issues, Johnstone said he chose to make his announcement early so he can spend the summer listening to voters from the different neighbourhoods and learning more about their concerns.

“I think being coy about your intention changes the conversation so I want to get cards on the table and let people know what my intentions are and have that conversation,” he said. “I am going to be door-knocking, I am going to be going to events, and I am going to be all over the social media. I have a couple of creative ideas about how I can engage people better that I think I will be rolling out over the summer.”

Johnstone, who has received an endorsement from the New Westminster and District Labour Council, works as an environmental coordinator in the City of Richmond, something he believes will be an asset as a councillor.

“The advantage is I have an understanding of how city hall works from the other side of the council table,” he said. “In New Westminster, I have been very active in the public doing volunteer work, and I have interacted a lot. I have been a delegation at council a lot of times and had those conversations, but it’s interesting to also be on the other side, to be on the staff side and see what works and doesn’t work inside city hall.”

Johnstone has volunteered on several city advisory committees, including the emergency advisory committee and bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee.

“I think the timing is right for me to take my community volunteering in this new direction,” he said.

Johnstone is a director of New Westminster Environmental Partners, the Royal City Curling Club and the Brow of the Hill Residents’ Association. As a “rabble-rouser”, Johnstone shares his thoughts on many local issues on his blog, New Westminster – In My Back Yard.

“I am a communicator and want to continue communicating first as a candidate and ultimately as a councillor,” he said in a press release. “I want to help create strong channels of communication so residents are heard at the council table and residents better understand how and why council makes decisions.”