The times they are a'changing. Well, perhaps the times do, but politics in the Royal City seems to be déjà vu all over again.
Back in 2002 Wayne Wright came charging onto the scene with a plan for the largest tin soldier in the world and a vision for New Westminster.
He said of the incumbent mayor, Helen Sparkes, "Helen and I have two different styles. I think I am the better person to run a city this size. It's easy to caretake. But it takes more initiative to make visions and make them come true."
Fast forward to 2011 when we have James Crosty saying, "Come on, we don't need a caretaker. We need somebody that is going to roll up their sleeves, get the finances in the city under control."
Wright ran on change, Crosty is running on change - even Vance McFadyen's signs say, "for significant change" vote for McFadyen.
Wright in 2002 even brandished a broom as a symbol of how he was going to bring sweeping changes to the city.
Voters seem to just vote for "change" sometimes - regardless of what kind of change is promised. They are suspicious of politicians who look too comfortable, or who appear to take their support for granted.
They distrust local politicians who brag about their connections with other politicians in other levels of government - even though those relationships often benefit local taxpayers. They sometimes seem to be fairweather friends always looking for someone who can give them more, or take away less. Even though any change has its consequences.
Perhaps middle-aged men who want to get into politics are at the "change of life" period in their lives. Crosty says at 55 he has enough experience in life and business to tackle things and likes to get his hands on fix-it projects. Wright, in 2002, at the age of 59, said he was not ready to retire and wanted to put his many years of experience as a business owner and leader to work in the mayor's chair. He too wanted to get his hands on a big project.
Wright had a vision for the city, and particularly the waterfront, that would, as he promised, make "our city - become the most livable and desirable city in the province."
Wright's first years in the mayor's chair weren't smooth sailing. His individual vision for the city and his lack of experience in politics meant that he often ended up pushing rather than leading. It took a couple of years before council started to work well together, and the city suffered through those years.
Both Wright and Crosty seem to have much in common.
Wright, I believe, learned on the job how to get things moving in the city - but he bruised some people in the city by imposing his vision. Crosty, if he wins, seems headed down the same path.
Mayors are not kings. They are but one vote on a city council - albeit a powerful vote that holds a gavel.
I stopped doing election predictions years ago - but this race looks like a close one.
Wright beat a shaken Sparkes in 2002 by only 18 votes. Will it be that close this time? Who knows?
But Crosty is showing the same tenacity and hard work that Wright displayed in the 2002 election. He is courting each and every voter he meets with a strong handshake and his own clear vision for the city. And voters are finding promises of less taxes and tighter financial control attractive.
Will Wright's own vision and accomplishments gain him another term?
We will soon find out.
Pat Tracy is the editor of The Record and Burnaby NOW newspapers.
