Richmond school board trustee Chak Au announced Tuesday morning that he's running for a seat on city council at next month's election.
Outside city hall, Au officially threw his hat into the ring, adding that he'll be running under the RITE (Richmond Independent Team of Electors) banner alongside incumbent Sue Halsey-Brandt, school trustee Carol Day and federal election Green Party candidate Michael Wolfe.
Au, who has been a school trustee since 1999, immigrated to Canada in 1988.
He's a registered family therapist and works for Vancouver Coastal Health in Richmond as a mental health promotion program leader.
He sees himself as being a "strong advocate of multiculturalism and racial harmony," in the city.
Au has served on numerous boards and committees, including Richmond Intercultural Advisory Committee, Richmond Child Care Advisory Committee, Richmond Sister City Committee, Richmond Connections, Richmond Multicultural Concerns Society and Richmond Poverty Response Task Force.
In 2002, after the death of Const. Jimmy Ng, caused by an illegal car race of several youth in Richmond, he chaired the Stop Illegal Street Racing Committee formed by community partners.
Au is the third member of the school board team to enter the race for city hall, after former school board chair Linda McPhail and Day.
The official 10-day nomination window for city council and school board candidates began Tuesday.
The civic election will be held Nov. 19.
