Wayne Wright - a mayor with experience
It is normal for candidates to choose certain issues and then to state what they intend to do about it if elected. The mayoral candidates in this campaign have certainly all done that. And I am happy to see that there are some really good ideas in the different platforms.
Because these candidates have not been involved in the day to day operation of the city, they may not realise that most of the projects and issues that they raise, are already being addressed by the city. Certainly I have been putting the “new” back into New West for some time as can be clearly seen all over the city.
I believe that the candidates are sincere in their campaign promises. However, talk is cheap. I know from experience what is possible and what is not.
New Westminster is not an island. We are surrounded by other jurisdictions. As a result many of the issues raised in this campaign, we as a city have no direct control over, like regional transportation for example. Does this mean we are doing nothing about it? Not at all. If you don’t have experience you might think nothing is being done but as a city we are in constant negotiation with the relevant stakeholders. These negotiations are complex so one needs to be both firm and diplomatic at the same time. A collaborative rather than an aggressive approach to finding solutions is called for. That takes experience, networking, and a positive reputation. Many of the testimonials on this website attest to my abilities in this regard.
It is normal for new candidates to do some posturing/grandstanding during a campaign. However, that should not be your normal modus operandi, your way of doing things. As a mayor one has to remember that one represents the City of New Westminster. As such, in order to address many of the campaign issues raised, one meets and works with senior government officials, leading business people, and even international visitors. That is why maturity coupled with experience are essential qualities for a mayor.
