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'Common sense candidate' joins Delta council race

It’s time to give neighbourhoods back their voices. That’s what longtime North Delta resident Mike Smith promises, having thrown his hat in the political ring by announcing his independent candidacy for a Delta council seat.
Mike Smith
Mike Smith is a longtime North Delta resident.

It’s time to give neighbourhoods back their voices.

That’s what longtime North Delta resident Mike Smith promises, having thrown his hat in the political ring by announcing his independent candidacy for a Delta council seat.

Smith is president of Unifor 2200, the union representing approximately 1,000 skilled trades and support workers employed by Coast Mountain Bus Company (TransLink) in Metro Vancouver. Smith describes himself as a “common sense candidate” who believes council members have been bogged down in politics and petty posturing over the last few years.

“There’s a lot of issues, you can say, that are neglected including the poor sidewalk replacement program, the tree bylaw to the haphazard way they go about introducing high-density in North Delta and South Delta. Remember that fiasco with the zoning bylaw this year?”

Smith adds, “The drive to reduce the debt the way they did leaves us way behind in services and amenities. I’m not saying Delta doesn’t have a good staff but they can only do so much with this council.”

Smith also points to a long list of other issues he believes required better leadership and foresight including the municipality’s handling of the Enviro-Smart situation, planning for playground equipment replacement to making the South Delta Recreation Centre more wheelchair accessible, among many others.

He noted despite incumbents saying anything to the contrary, city hall has been “losing touch” when it comes to neighbourhood livability. Smith said council and staff need to meet residents of individual neighbourhoods on a frequent basis to work collaboratively on the specific issues impacting each area. 

Smith added that while the city appears ready to work with the school board on the track issue, it can work closer on a range of other priorities including having a new bussing program to ensure children’s safety. 

The election takes place Oct. 20.