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Mayoral candidate Cliff Wei says he won’t accept donations

Thursday marks one month until Richmond’s municipal election and one mayoral candidate has vowed to not accept any campaign donations. Cliff Wei is no stranger to political campaigns.
Cliff Wei
Richmond mayoral candidate Cliff Wei. Oct. 2014

Thursday marks one month until Richmond’s municipal election and one mayoral candidate has vowed to not accept any campaign donations.

Cliff Wei is no stranger to political campaigns. In fact, the Richmond resident ran for mayor in the 2014 election, in 2013 for MLA for Richmond East and in 2011 for council.

But the reason Wei said he didn’t win his last mayoral race was due to campaign finances and the fact that he does not accept donations.

 “If I take the rich peoples’ money and I don’t take the poor peoples’ money, who will I work for? And most people that have a lot of money are the developers,” he said.  

“Why would I take political donations and do things like a business? I made the decision. I don’t take (donations).”

Wei said this affected his campaign significantly, adding that, “the money really makes some difference…the difference is shown at the polls.”

Since his campaign in 2014, Wei said he’s been working to get his name recognized in Richmond, including on social media and by participating in a political talk show with Fairchild Radio where he’s shared many of his views.

“For that reason, when I put my name out, I don’t need to provide my political platform. People already know me,” he said. “So it’s quite different than four years ago.”

That platform includes ideas on creating a bridge to replace George Massey Tunnel, establishing a Richmond-based police force and investing in artificial intelligence instead of working with the RCMP and developing an app to collect input from residents.

Wei also wants to focus on city planning, and compares Richmond to Beijing, warning against possible similar water shortages and air pollution.

“If everything goes right, I would have no worries. I don’t have to run in any public position,” he said. “I find the city is going to the wrong direction.”

Richmond’s election is on Oct. 20. Five other candidates are running for mayor including Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Lawrence Chen, Donald Flintoff, Hong Guo and Roy Sakata.