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Delta mayoralty candidates busy

The official campaign period for this year’s civic election is over a month away but that doesn’t mean Delta’s mayoralty candidates aren’t already working hard for exposure.
george harvie
George Harvie is one of three declared candidates for Delta mayor, all running with slates.

The official campaign period for this year’s civic election is over a month away but that doesn’t mean Delta’s mayoralty candidates aren’t already working hard for exposure.

Candidate George Harvie, the city’s former CAO who is heading the Achieving for Delta slate with council hopefuls Dan Copeland, Param Grewal, Alicia Guichon, Dylan Kruger and Cal Traversy, issued a press release today regarding off-leash dog parks.

Harvie announced that after months of engaging city residents on desired improvements for their community, it’s clear a commitment should be made to establish two off-leash parks, one in North Delta and the other in South Delta.

Noting the most important aspect is safety and that the new parks would be properly lit and enclosed, Harvie pointed out off-leash parks are increasingly popular thanks to mental and physical benefits for dogs and their owners.

Meanwhile, mayoralty candidate Sylvia Bishop is also keeping busy, having made a steady series of promises over the summer. In her most recent announcement this week, Bishop said he’ll have a trio of campaign kick-off events on Aug. 20, exactly two months before election day.

sylvia bishop

The city councillor said she’ll have a business breakfast in Ladner, an afternoon lunch in Tsawwassen and a late afternoon reception in North Delta.

Bishop is running under a Team Delta banner with city councillor Robert Campbell and newcomers Joan Hansen, Kim Kendall and Simran Walia.

Bishop said they intend to work exceptionally hard during the campaign to earn voters’ trust.

On another front, mayoralty candidate Jim Cessford has also been occupied with door knocking and public appearances, as well as maintaining a profile on social media. A recent post on Facebook showed Cessford and councillor Heather King, who isn’t seeking re-election, checking out a crosswalk on 52nd St. in Tsawwassen which has drawn concern. Other posts included his concerns about the idea of setting up an off-leash area in Watershed Park and his meeting with casino money laundering report author Peter German.

jim cessford

Cessford, the city’s former longtime police chief who retired three years ago, will be running for council with incumbent councillors Bruce McDonald and Jeannie Kanakos as well as newcomers Sandeep Pandher and Garry Shearer. Also part of the ticket is school board chair Laura Dixon and Jeannie’s husband Nick Kanakos, also an incumbent trustee, both intending to run once again for the board of education.  Also running on the ticket for school board is Joe Muego.

So far, the only other person to have declared his candidacy for a Delta council seat is Darcy Green, who is running on his own without a slate.

The municipal election is Oct. 20.