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Richmond Community Coalition announces council candidates

Chak Au and Ken Johnston will run for re-election, along with two new candidates
RCC
(From left) Incumbent councillors Chak Au and Ken Johnston announced their intent to run for re-election on the Richmond Commmunity COalition slate, along with new candidates Melissa Zhang and Parm Bains. Daisy Xiong photo

The Richmond Community Coalition (RCC) announced its first four candidates today for October’s municipal elections, including incumbent councillors Chak Au and Ken Johnston, and two new candidates.

The new candidates are Parm Bains, a communications instructor at KPU and former officer for the B.C. government, and Melissa Zhang, a financial services professional and past president of the Sunshine Lions Club.

“As a lifelong resident of Richmond, I’m tired of my friends moving out of Richmond,” said Bains.

“Tight-knit families and friends are being torn apart, and grandparents are driving across the region just to visit their children and grandchildren.

“I’m going to work closely with our political team to put forward a gentle density and a smart city plan, detailing how we will look at zoning, land use, young professionals, and people who want to stay in Richmond and stay close to their families.”

Zhang said she hopes to address the lack of communication between the city and residents, and between different residents with opposing views.

“Communications in the city are not enough and not timely, and I think current communication channels have defects,” said Zhang.

“Many times it’s not a matter of who is right, who is wrong…In a multicultural city like Richmond where people come from different backgrounds, it’s normal to have disagreements, but we need someone to connect everyone together.”

Johnston and Au also announced their re-election at today's event. 

“I’m concerned that the community is tearing apart in terms of harmony,” said Johnston.

“Every issue seems to be very divisive in our community…Over the next four years, I want to see a council not focused on one little group, but open to and working for the whole community.”

Au said he is excited to see two new members representing diverse groups running for council.

“We have a very diverse community and we want to have people who come from different backgrounds to come to council and to bring the voices of different communities,” said Au.

Au said he thinks Richmond council needs to have a “broader vision” and take “stronger action.”

“One thing I felt was that we have been maintaining the status quo, instead of having a strong vision of what our city should look like in 10 years, 20 years,” he said.

Another political group, Richmond First, has also introduced its own candidates, including six councillor candidates and five school board trustees.

Richmond First members, city council incumbents Bill McNulty, Linda McPhail and Derek Dang, and current school board trustees Eric Yung and Donna Sargent are all seeking re-election.