Vance McFadyen doesn't want to leave any doubt what his intentions are.
"I want to be mayor of New Westminster," said the longtime Royal City resident who surprised many by throwing his hat into the mayoral race on Oct. 14.
"I'm nobody's stalking horse. . I'm trying to win this job."
McFadyen was responding to talk in the community after Tuesday night's allcandidates' meeting in Queensborough that he was only running in the mayoral race to take votes away from James Crosty, the high-profile challenger to incumbent Wayne Wright, and that he would drop out of the race at a later date and throw his support behind Wright.
The City "Absolutely untrue," said McFadyen. "I think people are looking for change. I want people to see a different kind of person for mayor. . I believe I am that guy. I'm a guy who has well-thoughtout opinions on things, isn't afraid to speak them, and I can explain myself well. I think people will be attracted to that."
McFadyen, who has unsuccessfully run for council before, said that while he respects his two main opponents - "I don't know Francois Nantel," he said of the fourth mayoral candidate - he believes he's offering an alternative to voters.
"Overall, Wayne and council have done a good job," he said. "What's missing, I believe is that Wayne, while he's out in the community, he doesn't appreciate what people have to say to him in conversations about plans and development.
"I would listen and be a good leader because I listen. I don't make snap decisions, and I don't make a final decision until I get a good feel about what's best for everybody."
McFadyen said he's not social friends with Wright, but they are friendly when they meet, and he has supported Wright in past mayoral campaigns.
But last month, after Crosty announced his intention to run for mayor, one of Wright's comments was that they were "two different people, totally different how we live, our lifestyles" and the only thing they had in common was that they live on the same boardwalk.
In a follow-up interview, Wright explained his comments, stating that the two men are at different points in their lives, as he's a grandfather who's already gone through business and is in a different mode of his life than the younger Crosty.
McFadyen met with Wright soon after reading the comments but wasn't convinced with his explanation.
"What he was really saying is, 'James Crosty is gay.' That is the different lifestyle," he said. "I was very hurt. I was quite shocked. Again, I don't hold any serious grudge."
McFadyen, who came out as a gay man in 1968, is less familiar with Crosty, having met him "at a couple of gay events," but he said their social circles don't mix.
"Is he going for the gay vote?" asked McFadyen. "I'm sure that's part of who he's appealing to, along with the people at the Quay.
"For me, I'm not going for the gay vote, I'm going for every vote," said McFadyen.
"There's not enough of the gay vote in New Westminster to elect me, so I have to try and get votes from all citizens."
McFadyen cited his work in getting $25,000 for the youth centre in Moody Park last year and in getting Pride Day recognized in the Royal City as evidence that he can work with people and achieve positive results.
McFadyen also threw cold water on the notion that if the battle between Wright and Crosty gets nasty, he can come up the middle and win.
"I'm definitely not trying to split the vote," said McFadyen. "In fact, if the fight does get nasty, what I do see happening is Wayne's support firming up and James' support firming up. My approach is to offer a positive alternative, a voice that can connect at any level."
McFadyen said that he was more hurt than offended with Wright's comments and Wright's comments did not affect his decision to run for mayor.
In fact, the reason he did is tied in with the recent death of his 97-year-old father.
McFadyen was trying to decide if he was going to run for council when his dad Stewart took ill on Vancouver Island. While spending time with his father, McFadyen took stock of his life and realized that he had enjoyed business success and personal success when he was leading, not following.
After his father passed on Oct. 8 - and McFadyen's family was planning a celebration of Stewart's life in Ladysmith on Oct. 16 - McFadyen had little time to put in his nomination papers before the Oct. 14 deadline, and he did so with only 90 minutes to spare.
"Let me be clear," said McFadyen. "I'm not running because my dad died. I'm running because my dad would've wanted me to. He wouldn't have wanted me to drop out because he died. That would be dishonouring his memory. I made the decision when there were a lot of personal emotions going on around me.
"I will say that the good memories of my dad will sustain me and help sustain me during this campaign."
McFadyen is realistic enough to know who he would prefer as mayor and councillors if he were unsuccessful.
"Wayne has done a good job," said McFadyen. "If it's not me, I'd have no problem with Wayne winning.
"I strongly support Bill Harper, Jonathan Cote and Lorrie (Williams), and I support Betty (McIntosh) and Jaimie (McEvoy)."
If elected, McFadyen said his two main new concepts would be to hold quarterly town hall meetings that rotate throughout the city, and he would answer a mayor's question of the week that would be posted on the city's website and in its advertising.
McFadyen is a grandfather of two and has been with his partner, Curt Higham, for more than three decades. The couple married after British Columbia legally recognized same-sex marriage and live in a Craftsman-style home in the Moody Park area.
