I am writing to say that I share the sentiments expressed in the first couple lines of Jen Arbo's letter to the editor, Time for a new perspective (Sept. 17, The Record). I, too, have voted for Wayne Wright in the past elections since I've resided in New Westminster. I've endorsed him through various forums.
When it comes to a fresh mayoral face, I am wondering if there's a third or a fourth person who's entered the race that I am not aware of. Over the three terms that both Wayne Wright has been mayor and Jonathan Cote has been a city councillor, rarely do you find, on voting records, any difference.
With Wayne Wright, you know what you're getting, good and bad. He's very much in favour of development and also against dealing with traffic congestion and trying to move traffic through New Westminster effectively and efficiently, whether it be trucks or cars. He has his supporters and his detractors. But, as I said, at least you know where he stands on things, whether or not you agree with him.
Jonathan Cote has been on council for three terms now - all while getting endorsed by the New West and District Labour Council, along with councillors Williams, Harper and McEvoy. Part of that original endorsement process in 2008 was a position as opposing public-private partnerships. When the proposal to build the now completed Anvil Centre, included a privately funded (at the time) office tower to be integrated into the project, it made the project a public (City of New Westminster)-private (Uptown Property Group, the successful bidder at the time) partnership.
Yet no one, including Jonathan Cote, stood up and said "no" to the funding model, despite having advised the labour council during the endorsement process that they were against public-private partnerships. Despite having the Olympic Village and Port Mann Bridge projects as shining examples of what happens when the private partner pulls out of these projects, regardless of the reasons.
For the record, I have endorsed Jonathan Cote numerous times for city council, worked and contributed to the labour-endorsed candidates' campaigns and such in the past three elections.
With this looking the other way, on a key position, and the risk that the city was put in as a result of this boondoggle, not to mention the total lack of anyone being held accountable for putting the city into that precarious position, I won't be endorsing or supporting anyone who had a role in this affair.
Aside from age, there's little difference between Cote and Wright. And if forced to pick between the two, well, as the old adage goes, "Better the devil you know, than the one you don't."
For all things balanced out, I know who Wayne Wright is and what he stands for. I cannot say the same for Wright's one opponent.
My honest hope is that there's more than two contestants for mayor, because right now, it's a case of apples and apples. The wrapping may be different, but the packages are both the same.
Dave Lundy is a New Westminster resident.
