The Richmond Community Coalition announced two more city council candidates on Monday.
Current Richmond Fire Rescue captain Kirby Graeme and airline service agent Sal Bhullar are long-time Richmond residents, have adult children and are new to politics.
Bhullar and Graeme announced their candidacy at the Bhullar family home on a farm on Sidaway Road in east Richmond.
They join current incumbents Coun. Chak Au and Coun. Ken Johnston on the RCC council slate, along with Helen Quan and Dan Baxter.
“We are a team first and individuals second. As a team we want to represent our citizens, stakeholders and community groups in Richmond throughout so we can get a fair and equitable share of all that goes around to each organization,” said Graeme.
Graeme touted the RCC’s “diverse” selection of candidates as something that attracted him to the party, which was founded in June.
He said his strength, as a councillor, would be in applying his leadership and communication skills he’s acquired as a community volunteer, athletic coach and fire department captain.
“As a long time city employee, I’m running to now lead efforts towards a Richmond that is more safe, accountable and affordable,” said Graeme.
As a former spokesman for the fire department, Graeme said he would vow to make all city staff more available to media, particularly the fire department.
“In (the fire department) everything is done in corporate and I’m of the mind we should have more accessibility to media; no more of these closed doors things.
“I don’t feel you need to be a general manager to be a spokesperson, as long as you’re toeing the company line and honest,” said Graeme.
This month, senior city management denied the Richmond News a photo opportunity with firefighters and their new fire truck at an event at Richmond City Hall.
Graeme, a 28-year veteran firefighter, said fire services in the city are adequate and he has "no hidden agenda" related to the department. Graeme will commence a leave of absence from the City of Richmond come mid-October, which would carry on should he be elected.
Meanwhile Bhullar said she is concerned about affordability in the city.
“What prompted me to come forward and serve the community, in particular, is speaking to young adults who have done everything correctly — gone to post secondary school — and here they are working right next to me with half my salary. It’s something to look at,” she said.
She offered no specific solutions on how municipal action can lead to better affordability in the city for young adults.
She said she and the RCC would look at the “mechanisms” available to address housing affordability after coming into office.
She did say councillors can act as a voice to higher levels of government.
“Young people are sending a strong signal that something needs to be looked at. Our elected officials’ job is to take those voices and go to the next level (of government),” said Bhullar, adding that young people need to be better educated about the political system in order to feel empowered.
The mother of Olympic wrestler Arjan Bhullar has also worked in real estate, but touted her 30 years as an airline service agent as another impetus for joining council.
She said Richmond should focus on "the city within a city" that exists at Vancouver International Airport and also said there is “room for expansion” at YVR.
In stating her support for a bigger airport she deferred media questions about an airline-backed jet fuel facility on the Fraser River to Johnston, who then stated he and city council have "done everything" to oppose the facility and will continue to do so, however, it is now "well on its way through, past an environmental review."
The RCC has no platform to date but members stated it would soon be forthcoming.
At least 19 people, including six incumbents, have announced their intention to become a city councillor. The RCC is presently the biggest slate of candidates.
The election is Nov. 15.
