Port Coquitlam Coun. Steve Darling is the latest incumbent politician to seek re-election in the Oct. 15 municipal vote.
Citing a record of council accomplishments, Darling said in a press release that the past four years have been among his most satisfying.
Darling was previously a broadcaster; however, in his last four years, he has been active in the sporting community as a soccer and hockey coach, and often brings sports issues to the council table.
"I feel we have done so much in the first four years. When I decided to run in the first place I wanted to make sure we were able to get things done. We have," he stated in his announcement.
Darling said council and city hall operations proved to be effective during the COVID-19 pandemic, when meetings were virtual and recreation centres closed.
He cites these council accomplishments:
- Introducing a renoviction bylaw
- Opening the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (PCCC)
- Bringing BC Soccer to Port Coquitlam with a world-class facility to benefit soccer, lacrosse and the community
- Guiding sports back after the pandemic
- Strengthening the tree bylaw
- Controlling property taxes without large increases, while delivering on the basics
- Updating neighbourhoods with new sidewalks, playgrounds, parks and traffic calming
- Working on climate change measures
- Allowing alcohol consumption in parks
- Tackling the housing crisis
- Redeveloping the downtown core
"I feel very honoured to work with a great team on council and am humbled to have Mayor Brad West endorse me for a second term."
Follow Darling on Twitter and Instagram, or email him directly at [email protected]
Other known candidates who have formally announced their intentions to enter the PoCo race include Mithila Karnik, Justin Alexander Smith, Sarah Harbord, Erik Minty, Jami Watson, Coun. Nancy McCurrach and Mayor Brad West.
For SD43's board of education, Michael Thomas and Christine Pollock have both announced they are running again.
As well, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a series of all-candidates debates for local 2022 civic elections.
Port Coquitlam mayoralty and council nominees will get the chance to speak to the issues that matter to them, and take questions from the public, at Riverside Community Church on Oct. 3.
