As part of our elelction coverage, the Richmond News asked all city council candidates to introduce themselves by submitting a 170-word bio. They were asked to include their name, party and occupation as well as tell us why they were running and list the key issues they would focus on, if elected.
Here are the candidates for city council:
Chak Au
Party: Richmond Community Coalition
Occupation: Family therapist
Why are you running for office: It has always been working towards building a harmonious community in Richmond.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Traffic: Improve the traffic flow in the City Centre area. There are too many traffic lights along No. 3 Road. We must make use of the proposed redevelopments of two major malls to improve traffic patterns in the surrounding areas. We can use new traffic technology to speed flow. Also, I urge the provincial government to make a quick decision on the Massey Tunnel replacement, a new bridge or tunnel.
2) Housing: With the rental vacancy rate at 0.6 per cent in Richmond, we must increase the supply of affordable rental units. I support rental-only zoning. Illegal short-term rentals must be stopped. I also support “gentle density” to create smaller, more affordable home options.
3) Public safety: Working to shorten police response times in high-crime areas is a priority. I continue to support neighbourhood safety initiatives for crime prevention. We should upgrade training and equipment of emergency services so they can do their jobs more effectively.
Adil Awan
Party: Independent
Occupation: Air transport pilot
Why are you running for office: I want to be the independent voice dedicated to bringing your voice back to city council. Since emigrating from Uganda in 1974, my family and I have called Richmond home. Currently, I am employed as an air transport pilot based at YVR. I am running independently in order to bring “the voice of the people to city hall and exclusively answer to the residents of Richmond” without being tied to specific party interests.
Key issues in this election:
Mega mansions on farmland: The Ministry of Agriculture guidelines is a max of 5,382 square feet with an option to build a second home for farm workers or family that work on the farm which can be 3,339 sq. ft. I will advocate in limiting house sizes to 5,382 sq. ft.
Affordable housing: I will work with all levels of government to explore different options such as a vacancy tax, laneway houses, coach houses, smaller lots for smaller houses. We need to be proactive when it comes to housing, and I will negotiate stronger deals with developers to ensure our housing needs are met.
Parm Bains
Party: Richmond Community Coalition
Occupation: Instructor, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Why are you running for office: Passionate about keeping families together and stopping young professionals from leaving the city.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Affordable homes: Introduce a Gentle Density Plan to get away from big home development and create smaller, more affordable homes around our neighbourhood schools for working families and young professionals.
2) Transportation infrastructure: Improvements along Steveston Highway corridor and support for a forward-looking George Massey Tunnel crossing bridge, which would include HOV lanes, pedestrian walk-ways, bike lanes and a SkyTrain line for future implementation.
3) Tax burden: Stop continued tax hikes, perform an external value for dollar audit and return savings to taxpayers.
Andy Chiang
Party: Independent
Occupation: Account manager
Why are you running for office: To build a better Richmond by working together on its key issues.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Vehicle and traffic safety: increased RCMP presence, driver re-education, marketing campaigns for standing issues, re-painting lines, parking space sizes, deeper analysis of traffic signal times, illuminated pedestrian crosswalks, etc.
2) Sense of community: more community events to showcase local goods like farm markets, public art displays, family friendly events throughout the year, increased cultural celebrations and awareness, etc.
3) Maintaining and improving Richmond’s pillars: Commerce, education and housing - saving and preserving agricultural land, increasing awareness on the importance of agriculture, increasing local commercial presence in growing housing communities, save our schools from vanishing.
Derek Dang
Party: Richmond First
Occupation: City councillor/Property management
Why are you running for office: I’ve made a commitment to be a positive asset to the community that has provided much to my family. I’ve lived in Richmond my entire life. I went to school from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and I went to UBC majoring in political science. My family ran a corner grocery store, Blundell Rd Grocery, from 1963 to 1992. My uncle, Ed Dang, ran Island Grocery at #1 and Williams for decades. My brother, sisters and I helped out from an early age. My wife, Margaret, works at Richmond Hospital as a physician and my kids, Natalie and Zachary are students Burnett High School.
Three key issues in this election:
I would focus on housing affordability/availability, community safety and transportation. We need to establish incentives for new development of rental housing. Supporting Temporary Housing is a huge step for Richmond. Keeping our police and firefighters properly resourced is important. Continuing our collaboration with TransLink and the province to enable seamless travel is also necessary.
Carol Day
Party: RITE
Occupation: City councillor
Why are you running for office: I love working hard for my community. Giving back to the people of Richmond is the most rewarding experience of my life. My first term as a councillor has been very active. I’ve worked to end the problems with land use contracts and with mega mansions. They transfer value from ALR farmland to speculators. They harm our food security. I’ve also worked for smarter growth, Massey crossing renewal and a modular housing approach that balances concerns.
Key issues in this election:
Value farmland ahead of speculators and their council buddies;
Create a strong code of ethics for Richmond council;
Curb casino-related criminal activity;
Support police and firefighters;
Address ways that birth tourism is unfair to our community;
Investigate a vacancy tax;
Make affordable housing a priority;
Establish a renters’ advisory committee;
Set up a user-friendly online record of council voting.
Kelly Greene
Party: Richmond Citizens Association
Occupation: Community advocate
Why are you running for office: I am running because the status quo is hurting our city. We need leadership that will ensure our city is strong 30 years from now.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Farmland: House size must be reduced from the current 10,764 square feet (plus second house of 3,230 sq. ft. on larger parcels) to the provincial maximum to keep speculators off our farmland. The only councillors who voted to reduce house size were Day and Steves.
2) Housing: Affordable housing for families and seniors is lagging well behind the need for it. When construction of luxury mansions and one bedroom condos is prioritized, we are hurting our community.
3) Integrity and accountability: Conflict of interest laws need to be strengthened and renewed so that voters can have confidence in their elected officials. Specifically, we need a lobbyist registry, an independent officer to provide oversight and investigate complaints, and a more robust declaration of business interests.
Theresa Head
Party: Independent
Occupation: Work from home (part-time)
Why are you are running for office: I was born and raised in Newfoundland, and moved out to Richmond BC 1995 from the USA where I served a mission for my church. I have seven sisters and three brothers, three of us girls were born with a disability. I have been fortunate to be living in BC Housing for the past twenty- one years, great location and easy access to public transit.
Key issues in this election:
In November 2017 I took part in a round table discussion about people living in poverty and in January a group of us formed (Richmond Advocate Support Committee). We speak up for those of our 120 homeless living on the streets in Richmond without a home. Let’s start by changing out attitude and get to work and make life better for those that need it most.
As city councillor I would promote compassion and action for our people who are homeless and sleeping on our streets in Richmond. Homelessness happens for many reasons including sickness, layoff or high rents. An attitude shift begins with you and me.
Jonathan Ho
Party: Richmond Community Coalition
Occupation: Banker/school trustee
Why are you running for office: We are so fortunate to live in this diverse and harmonious city. Giving back to the city that I called home after I emigrated from Hong Kong is my passion.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Housing affordability: Paradoxically, no one wants the real estate market to fall sharply because it relates to many people’s wealth, retirement income, jobs, and many other economic activities. However, many young families have been driven away because they just couldn’t afford it. I advocate learning from some of the Asian success stories in handling this problem, such as the “Home Ownership Scheme“ of the British Colony Hong Kong and the subsidized units of Singapore‘s Housing Development Board (HDB).
2) Stop the tax hikes: Review the almost three per cent annual increase in property tax while the city sits on several hundreds of millions of dollars of reserve.
3) Keep traffic moving: Review the OCP and transportation supporting measures to alleviate the problem of traffic congestion.
Sunny Ho
Party: Richmond First
Occupation: Businessman
Why are you running for office: Enhancing Richmond to become a metropolitan city for business, working and living is Sunny’s goal to serve the residents of Richmond by joining the municipal election as a candidate for city councillor in October 2018.
Key issues in this election:
Sunny is pursuing his goals to build a prosperous Richmond by:
1. Building and operating an affordable dental centre to serve to the residents of Richmond, especially the senior citizens.
2. Establishing a Traditional Chinese Medicine Department in Richmond Hospital.
3. Building 400 units of affordable housing in Richmond within three years.
4. Training and assisting local workers and newcomers for resolving the shortage of labour in the hotel and restaurant businesses in Richmond
5. Establishing a new university in Richmond.
If I am elected, community safety, affordable housing and traffic are my priorities to do.
Andy Hobbs
Party: Richmond First
Occupation: Retired VPD Superintendent
Why are you running for office: Andy is a retired Vancouver Police Superintendent with over 35 years of policing experience. He grew up in Richmond and graduated from Richmond High and UBC. Andy and Lynn, married since 1982, have three children and have welcomed their first grandchild. Andy is a decorated police officer and was inducted into the Order of Merit of the Police Forces by the Governor General of Canada and received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for community service.
Andy believes in public service and wants to help Richmond to be safe and liveable. His volunteer work includes the Richmond School Board (2002-2008), Richmond Kigoos Swim Club and the Richmond Community Foundation. Currently, he’s a director, Tourism Richmond Board, member of the Richmond Intercultural Advisory Committee, Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society (Chair), Steveston Salmon Festival Committee and the Richmond Hospital Foundation’s Stakeholders’ Relations Committee.
Andy strongly supports saving farmland (his granddaughter is a fifth generation farmer), building liveable housing options and community safety. Andy brings significant experience and a new voice to city council.
Ken Johnston
Party: Richmond Community Coalition
Occupation: Councillor
Why are you running for office: I care about our community and want to contribute to making it even greater.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Affordability
2) Transportation
3) Environment
We need to work with the housing industry and senior government to develop more rental housing. We need to look at forms of gentle density so that young families can afford to live in neighbourhoods close to schools and community services. Smaller homes on large lots.
We need to expedite improving the road network in our downtown core to develop better flow. Living in the No. 5 and Steveston area I am reminded daily we need an immediate solution to the Massey Tunnel fiasco. Also, quicker addition of Canada Line capacity.
I ran a company recognized by the Richmond Chamber with the “Green Business of the Year Award” so I support the commitment to be a leader in sustainable practices including water quality, district energy delivery, solar power and green fleet. I want to enhance our parks and dykes.
Peter Liu
Party: Richmond First
Occupation: Business management
Peter Liu, a leader in technology and entrepreneurship, will strengthen Richmond’s excellent business climate.
The reasons I am running for Richmond council is because I am confident that my range of business experience can add to the strength of experience around the council table.
I was born in Tianjin, China, and came to Canada with my wife and daughter in 2002. Our son was born here. We settled in Richmond right away.
In China, I was an exporter-importer with a commodities trading company. In Canada, I’ve been involved with a number of businesses and I’m an investment advisor who helps facilitate deals in oil, gas and technology. I also export B.C. wines to China.
I’m also a founding member of 1029 Café, a super-innovative incubator for entrepreneurship that merges Asian and North American expertise to generate business and jobs in Richmond.
I believe that the new council should have experience, vision and leadership to deliver a better Richmond.
Alexa Loo
Party: Independent
Why are you running for office: I’m running for council to continue the work to make Richmond the most livable city where people are happy, healthy and feel a sense of connection to each other and to nature.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Improving affordability by ensuring the right incentives are in place to get more built rental stock. Continuing to require built affordable housing from development projects and built childcare spaces that support families.
2) Our parks, recreation facilities and community centres give us spaces to come together. I will continue to advocate for these as well as for better transit, safer bike lanes, and better road connections so that we can get to these places. I will advocate for greener transportation options and reducing congestion.
3) I will continue to fight for safety and security: ensuring that we have enough firehalls, trucks and firefighters to respond to our growing population, and ensuring that we have enough police to keep us secure, and working to get the traffic cameras installed in our intersections.
Bill McNulty
Party: Richmond First
Occupation: City councillor
Why are you running for office: I am running for council to advocate for a safe, healthy, progressive, family-oriented city, working on behalf of the citizens of Richmond.
Key issues in this election:
I will focus on community safety, keeping Richmond one of the safest communities in Canada. As our city grows and evolves, we need to continue to budget for, and add to the number of police officers every year. Richmond needs to increase its fire-rescue complement of on-duty staffing in order to improve response capabilities. I am advocating for an increase in all necessary resources to keep Richmond safe.
Richmond needs all forms of rental housing which include low market rental, market rental, and seniors housing. I have initiated an affordable housing strategy that requires developers to put legal secondary suites in rezoned properties. I will explore incentives and partnerships to encourage governments and developers to build more affordable housing and increase rental stock. We also need to explore other forms of building options to meet the needs of the community.
Linda McPhail
Party: Richmond First
Occupation: City councillor
Why are you running for office: As a life-long resident, I truly love Richmond and believe I have the experience to be effective in keeping Richmond a great place to live, work and raise a family.
Key issues in this election:
Community safety: Adding to Richmond Fire-Rescue staffing to meet the population growth and change. Keep emergency preparedness planning a priority. It is vitally important to have plans and programs in place for an effective response in the event of a major emergency.
Transportation: Strategies to ease the passenger crunch on the Canada Line at peak times and better local access to routes to and from the line. Adding to cycling network and adapting transportation infrastructure to meet the accessibility needs of the community is also important.
Continue advocating for a cost-effective, sustainable solution for the George Massey Tunnel replacement.
Affordable Housing: Continue with strategies that provide for a healthy mix of housing options.
Dennis Page
Party: Independent
Occupation: Digital media production
Why are you running for office: The attitudes, opinions, and balance of power in Richmond has remained unchanged for nearly 20 years – and on the hot-button issues, I find I’ve disagreed with most of council’s choices.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Embrace the multi-billion dollar legal cannabis industry, and create more than just jobs — create professional careers and allow our college grads a chance at stability and potential home ownership.
2) Fund and empower our law enforcement so they have the tools to combat the changing nature of crime in our neighbourhoods. No longer will they be safe havens for criminals.
3) Weed out corruption and exploitation of our neighbourhoods. I will not sit back and let our neighbourhoods be used as a commodity, and watch as families are replaced by those looking for to create anchor babies, houses turned into bunk homes for foreign temporary workers and dormitories for international students.
Our current councillors have had nearly 20 years to get it right – and have failed.
John Roston
Party: Independent
Occupation: Consultant; retired McGill adjunct professor
Why are you running for office: We need action on urgent issues based on facts and principles, rather than current council’s inaction based on politics.
Key issues in this election:
Affordable housing, protecting farmland and neighbourhood safety.
Council has done little about the housing crisis. Families, seniors with health problems, millennials who must share with roommates and those working from home need affordable multi-bedroom rental units.
The supply hasn’t increased rapidly enough to reduce rental rates. Developers prefer to build one-bedroom units that are more attractive to investors and often remain vacant. Council only requires 40 per cent multi-bedroom units in new developments. It should be 80 per cent.
Council is covering up the most fertile farmland in B.C. with mega mansions, taking entire farms out of production which only benefits wealthy investors and farmland owners who make millions. After council ignored our numerous presentations, we successfully met with the Agriculture Minister and Green Party Leader to urge provincial action.
Judie Schneider
Party: Richmond Citizens Association
Occupation: Mother/assistant at an independent business
Why are you running for office: Richmond’s livability and affordability are in jeopardy. Our perfect mixture of urban amenities, farmland and riverfront community space are now threatened by decision makers who care more about developers’ demands than the needs and wants of the rest of the citizens.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Lowering ALR house size limits: Richmond has some of the best soil for growing food to feed our province. When house size on farmland exceeds the limits on neighbouring residential properties, our farmland becomes threatened by speculation.
2) Incentivizing renovations of single family homes: Housing unaffordability, low rental vacancy rates, fractured neighbourhoods, low school enrolment, constant construction, environmental damage, loss of trees and loss of architectural history are all consequences of uncontrolled, rampant demolition and could be mitigated by forward-thinking measures.
3) Updating conflict of interest rules/creating a lobbyist registry: City councillors should not be Richmond developers.
Patrick Saunders
Party: Independent
*Editor’s note: Saunders did not respond to the Richmond News’ requests for information and question answers.
Niti Sharma
Party: RITE
Occupation: Part-time writing teacher
Why are you running for office: Richmond’s current building trends are eroding affordability and I would like to see policies and bylaws in the city that contribute to building housing affordability and livability. I would also like to remind each of us that our individual choices affect others and this realization can help us make more sustainable and compassionate choices as a city.
Key issues in this election:
Housing affordability: Build co-op housing as co-ops connect housing costs to local incomes.
Assemble an empty homes list and lobby for vacancy tax. Examine building norms to allow for co-existence between older and newer homes.
Encourage developers to build more modest two and three bedroom homes and mix market housing with social housing. Protecting ALR for food production by reducing the size of farmland houses to the provincial guidelines.
Create and adopt a new code of ethics for councillors to minimize conflict of interest issues around development and re-zoning.
Manjit Singh
Party: Independent
Occupation: Instructor/President Step Alive Emergency Training Centre
Why are you running for office: I am running for council to make the lives of Richmondites better by bringing the cost of living within the affordability range and build Richmond as the art and cultural capital of Canada.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Housing affordability: If elected my priority will be to firstly safeguard the farmlands for the farmers and establish firm guidelines for the land usage for the construction of three bedroom family houses that are affordable for couples.
2) Hospital: I would like to see expansion of Richmond Hospital so that wait times in ER are reduced and end the parking meters as they add insult to injury that the patients are already undergoing.
3) We need seniors’ centres for all communities supported by art, music and cultural events.
Kerry Starchuk
Party: Independent
Occupation: An active and dedicated community advocate and casual contract worker
Why are you running for office: As a lifelong Richmond resident, for the past eight years I have endeavoured to encourage local, provincial and federal governments to amend policies that have unfavourably affected the lives of Richmond citizens.
The current council has poorly handled the language problem and has ignored the birth tourism issue. After attending many council meetings I witnessed the current council favouring developers and big money and neglecting the opinions of the community.
If I gain an elected position I will challenge policies and initiatives that negatively impact our lives and work in order to make Richmond an inclusive, progressive and healthy place to live and work.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Language on signage
2) Illegal short term rentals
3) The exploitative practice of birth tourism
These three issues are all related to the subsequent deterioration of the neighbourhoods and community.
Harold Steves
Party: Richmond Citizens Association
Occupation: Farmer
Why are you running for office: I’m a farmer and former teacher with a BSc in Agroecology and postgraduate certificate in Secondary Science and Art Education. As Richmond’s MLA in 1973, I was a main founder of the Agricultural Land Reserve, and have fought to preserve agricultural lands ever since.
Three key issues in this election:
1) I’m running again to continue protecting farmland, heritage and waterfront; developing parks and community facilities; planning energy alternatives and dyke improvements to compensate for climate change, and promoting affordable housing, public transit and food security to improve the lives of all Richmond citizens.
2) Empty houses and illegal BnB’s are driving prices up. They must be taxed and the law enforced to make housing more affordable.
3) I’m appalled at the money laundering in our casino and real estate, and the recent approval of 10,724 sq. ft. mega-mansions in the ALR. 1,274 mega-mansions could be built in the ALR taking up 300 to 600 acres of farmland. I’m shocked that six members of council voted for them. There must be a change on council. Richmond’s future is threatened.
Jason Tarnow
Party: Independent
Occupation: Lawyer
Why are you running for office: Richmond has always been my home and I’m concerned about the direction it’s heading. Like many, I’ve grown tired of seeing decisions at city hall benefit a select few and disregard the community as a whole.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Protecting ALR farmlands: Every Richmond candidate in this election ought to have this in their platform. If they don’t, they’re likely the incumbents who voted for allowing our city’s infamous mega-mansions.
2) Cannabis retail sales: Legalization marks a significant opportunity for Richmond to receive a share of the allocated taxes, however it’s chosen to prohibit retail sales altogether. Ultimately, this decision (and the archaic reasoning behind it) will cost Richmond millions in lost tax dollars.
3) Public safety: Richmond is a beautiful place to live but there are improvements that can be made to ensure that our residents and visitors remain safe. A safer community will ultimately strengthen our local economy.
Jack Travato
Party: Richmond Citizens Association
Occupation: Teacher
Why are you running for office: I am committed to ushering in a new age of honest, transparent, and accountable civic government where the common good and best interests of the entire community are a priority.
Key issues in this election:
Amend the conflict of interest rules and implement a lobbyist registry.
The RCA wants to ensure that our elected officials are serving the best interests of our community.
Municipal officers are governed by the conflict of interest provisions of the Community Charter, which is legislation enacted by the provincial government.
I will petition the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) to request that the B.C. government amend and strengthen those provisions to include oversight by an independent officer, and that a new lobbyist registry is created that will require all individuals lobbying the City of Richmond (mayor and councillors) to register and declare all their lobbying activities.
Michael Wolfe
Party: RITE
Occupation: Science teacher, Richmond School District
Why are you running for office: To provide voters with a local politician who represents the interests of citizens rather than corporations.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Planning with neighbours. I will meet directly with neighbourhoods before, during and after development permit projects, to witness the changes and provide leadership by immediately making motions to address the situation. I will do all that I can to bring better communication between our staff and residents; this includes creating a youth commission to provide youth-informed public policy.
2) Ending the practice of having profit-driven local developers on council, who are responsible for mega-mansions on farmland.
3) After completing graduate studies in education for sustainability, I will use Vancouver’s Greenest City Action Plan as a template to enact programs for our own departments. My students inspire me to be a life-long learner with the goal of better practices for sustainable city services, businesses, and residents.
Henry Yao
Party: RITE
Occupation: Former constituency assistant; currently, campaigning full-time
Why are you running for office: From approving 10,764 square foot mansion on farmland to being unwilling to lobby for a vacancy tax to help combat rental affordability crisis, many councillors seem to be favouring special interests over Richmond’s needs. TMH debate and SOGI consultation showed special interests are using language barriers to sow confusion, suspicion and anger. We need councillors with the determination to fight for Richmond and combat these divisive forces with cross-cultural communication, interaction and collaboration.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Stop mega mansions on farmland; and address farmland speculation utilizing Richard Wozny’s report.
2) Limit special interest influence on council and address conflict of interest involving councillors developing properties in Richmond.
3) Combat housing speculation and improve rental affordability by lobbying the provincial government for a fair vacancy tax.
Melissa Zhang
Party: Richmond Community Coalition
Occupation: Financial advisor
Why are you running for office: To bridge between all of our communities and to bridge between our residents and local government.
Three key issues in this election:
1) Traffic: Rapid population growth requires more efficient and well planned traffic system to bring people home faster.
2) Safety: Enhance block watch, offer more grant to encourage residents to take care of each other, organize seniors to help with crime prevention.
3) City development: Need a forward-looking plan to catch up with population growth and keep the uniqueness of our city.
Zhang Zhe
Party: Independent
Occupation: Teacher
Why are you running for office: My name is Zhang Zhe, probably the last one on the ballot, but I am sure you will slowly realize I should be your top choice.
I am a Chinese immigrant with politics, IT and business background.
Key issues in this election:
My number one priority is housing affordability. My approach is to (1) tax certain people who own two or more properties, and transfer those taxes to renters, (2) tax the people who frequently buy and sell properties, especially pre-sale condos, use those taxes to subsidize the people who only own one home.
Small business renters and foreign talents are also affected by housing crisis. To solve this issue, my plan is to use city finance to subsidize small business renters, and use birth tourism surcharges to attract and help foreign talents.
For city planning, I oppose high density. There should be a large shopping mall at No 4 Road, and beautiful second Richmond downtown in Steveston.
In addition, I support social integration, community harmony and multiculturalism.
