It may just be the midway point of spring, but some local politicians have already planted their seeds hoping they will sprout votes to be harvested at the ballot box in this November's local government election.
One of them is Harold Steves, who said, heading into to the last civic election, it may be his last.
"If I had everything done in three years, I may not run again. This could be my last (election). I'm not saying it will be, I hope it's not," said Steves in October, 2011.
"I wouldn't be leaving for any good reason, I just think I've been around for a long enough time now," he added.
Well, not quite long enough, he said recently. Besides, there is so much more to do, he added.
"I've got so many things happening now I can't quit, that's the problem," said Steves, 76, who was first elected for one, three-year term as an alderman in 1968, took a break to be part of the Dave Barrett NDP provincial government from 1973 to 1975, and then got back in the saddle locally and has continuously served on city council since 1977. "Largely, it's to maintain food security and develop staycations for British Columbians so they can enjoy our waterfront and recreational facilities here. I like the way Richmond has been going and want to help out."
While he has been a civic politician for close to four and a half decades, Steves said it's surprising to see how little some issues have changed over that time.
"When I first got elected, I was vice chair of the Richmond Anti Pollution Association trying to get sewage treatment in the Fraser River. And we're still trying to get that," said Steves.
At the core of his decision to run again is to protect the local environment.
"I was an environmentalist back in 1968 and they still need environmentalists today more than ever," he said, adding he was the first to organize protests against supertankers plying west coast waters 46 years ago. "That gives you an idea how long it takes to try and solve some of these issues we are still fighting."
Steves said he remains steadfast in protecting agricultural land.
"As long as governments are trying to gut the ALR, as they are with Bill 24, I need to stick around," he said, adding he is keen to continue as vice chair of Metro Vancouver's planning and agriculture committee.
As for first-time councillor Linda McPhail, a member of the Richmond First slate (which includes councillors Derek Dang, Ken Johnston and Bill McNulty), she did not hesitate in declaring she would run for a second term.
The former Richmond School Board Chair made the decision a few months back.
Driving her bid for re-election is the desire to see through a number of city projects that involve renewing civic facilities such as the new adult centre at Minoru Park.
"We are in this phase of a number of buildings coming to the end of their lives, and we want to have it so we're positioned for the future," McPhail said, adding the expected lifespan of the replacement buildings could stretch 50 years.
Fellow Richmond First candidate Johnston said he was never "undecided" about running again.
"I looked ahead and a lot of factors come into it - family and how long I've been doing it, and time commitments - and I would try for one more term. I am enjoying myself," he said, adding he likes the way the community is developing.
Dang said his name would be on the ballot in November in good part because of his role as chair of the advisory committee of the new Minoru Aquatic and Older Adult's Centre.
McNulty, who has been on council since 1993 and topped the polls in 2011, said he currently has no comment on whether he plans to enter the race."I have a mandate to finish up with the people of Richmond. And I am going to follow that through right to the end, and see what happens on Sept. 30 when the nominations are due," Firmly in the re-election camp are Couns. Evelina Halsey-Brandt and Chak Au. The News was unable to contact Coun. Linda Barnes in time for the paper's deadline.
