[NEWS] Wayne Wright seeks fifth term as New Westminster’s mayor

A trip Down Under helped Wayne Wright decide he’s not quite ready to sail into the sunset just yet.

Wright, who was first elected mayor in 2002, has announced he’ll seek a fifth term as New Westminster’s mayor. He made the decision after discovering he was antsy after week two of a five-week summer vacation in Australia

“In five weeks, a guy like me finds out that he can’t sit still too long, and he still has things he wants to do,” he said. “You start looking at it and thinking, ‘what’s my future and do I want to retire?’ The fact of the matter is, I don’t want to retire.”

In 2011, Wright swept to a fourth term as mayor of New Westminster with 62 per cent of support from voters, topping challenges by local residents James Crosty, Vance McFadyen and Francois Nantel.

“I have got some things I want to do. I still have the energy, I still have the ability and the knowledge,” Wright said. “I am at the top of my game right now.”

Incumbent Coun. Jonathan Cote announced earlier this summer that he would be running for mayor.

“I would say this to Jonathan himself, if he wins this election, then he deserves it,” Wright said. “There’s a big job ahead for everybody to do it; you just have to be prepared. I know what’s needed and I can do it. I have the abilities. There is no question.”

While many prominent local New Democrats have indicated they’ll be supporting Cote in his bid for mayor – many who supported Wright in the past – Wright doesn’t think all residents will be casting votes based on party lines.

“I have always tried to be fair for everybody – it didn’t matter what the politics are,” he said. “I think I have done a fairly decent job with that.”

Wright believes his experience at city hall, as well as his roles with Metro Vancouver, TransLink and the Mayors Council on regional transportation, are assets to being mayor.

“I am so pleased with what’s been going on, and we have been so successful. I think we are on the right track and should keep on the same way,” he said. “With the experience I have and the knowledge I have now, I really feel like I want to contribute more.”

While there are development projects to continue working on, Wright believes his experience will help make the Queensborough to Quay pedestrian crossing a reality. He cites developments to address homeless people and seniors as some of his proudest achievements as mayor.

“There’s no use changing anything that is going right. Don’t change the wheel if it’s not broken, is the old adage,” he said. “The most important thing is I have the ability to show the leadership needed here.”

Wright cites the Anvil Centre, the business office tower complex at Anvil Centre, the Wait for Me Daddy war memorial statute and Honour House as some of the notable accomplishments in his most recent term as mayor.

“As New Westminster residents look forward to the next four years, I am confident they will choose me as the best mayoral candidate. I will continue to provide the leadership and vision needed for the economic and social needs facing our city,” he said. “I want to be there for New West citizens, working to bring new projects and developments into our exciting and growing city.”

With veteran councillor Betty McIntosh retiring and Cote running for mayor, Wright believes the city would be best served by a mayor with experience in the role. Along with Cote, he’s heard rumblings there could be another one or two candidates vying to be New Westminster’s mayor.

“With new people coming in you want leadership there,” he said. “I am pretty certain I can work with anybody, whoever it is that comes forward. I don’t have any doubt I can work with the council of the day.”

Cote believes the race will ultimately come down to a choice between himself and Wright.

“The city is really going to have to make a decision: do we want to move forward in the future with a change and a new perspective or do we want to stay with the status quo?” he said. “I am hearing from a lot of people on the doorsteps that they are saying they voted for Wayne in the past but they think it’s time for a change and a new perspective in the mayor’s office.”

Cote believes he can bring “a fresh perspective and some new energy” to the mayor’s chair.

“If we are going to look at the contrasts between me and Wayne, certainly when Wayne first arrived in the mayor’s office 12 years ago, the city really needed someone to sell the city. He’s been a good booster mayor. Having said that, I think I’d bring much more of a policy approach,” said Cote, who recently completed his master’s degree in urban studies at Simon Fraser University. “Even though our city is going to be facing some really complex issues in the coming years, I think someone that can provide a more thoughtful approach and a more planned process is going to serve the city very well. I think both Wayne and myself have always had a vision for moving the city forward and looking at ways to improve the city, but to me I think we need someone with the background to address some of the challenging issues we are going to face. That really does involve proper planning.”