Peter Fassbender has heard speculation that if he wins the 91原创 City mayor鈥檚 job, he might leave it for provincial politics if there was a B.C. election, and he wants to make it very clear that won鈥檛 happen.

鈥淚 will be here for the full term,鈥� Fassbender said.

Fassbender stepped down part way through his term as 91原创 City mayor when he was elected MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood in the 2013 provincial election. He was Minister of Education, then served as minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and minister responsible for TransLink.

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During the most recent provincial election, he was defeated by the NDP candidate.

Now, the 91原创 resident is looking to get his old job back.

When asked if he is re-connecting with 91原创 City voters, Fassbender corrects the questioner.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I ever lost that connection.鈥�

Fassbender said he has been connecting with residents, one door at a time, going out daily to knock on doors and introduce himself as the candidate for mayor.

Most people don鈥檛 have too much trouble recognizing him.

He has run into the occasional teacher who is not a fan of the former provincial minister, but Fassbender says most people, even the critics, are 鈥渧ery pleasant, very courteous鈥� as they explain they won鈥檛 be voting for him.

鈥淚 did not do anything against teachers, he said, pointing out that he was able to negotiate a six-year contract, the longest agreement ever reached with the B.C. Teachers鈥� Federation

鈥淭he key is negotiated and longest,鈥� he said.

There are some advantages, Fassbender said, to having a mayor with inside knowledge of how the provincial and federal governments operate.

He was no stranger to dealing with senior levels of government before, but his time as education minister in cabinet has 鈥渞efined my perspective.鈥�

When he talks about transportation, for instance it鈥檚 with the perspective of the minister responsible for TransLink.

He says he is 鈥渓eaning鈥� toward supporting SkyTrain over LRT to 91原创.

While it might be more expensive to build, it will be 鈥渕uch more efficient鈥� at moving people in the long run.

鈥淲e need to look 20 to 30 years in the future.鈥�

LRT makes sense in downtown cores like Surrey鈥檚, not so much in 91原创, he thinks, but he is reserving judgment pending more information.

鈥淚 have not seen the final business case,鈥� he said.

His campaign slogan is 鈥淧roven Record 鈥� Strong Vision,鈥� seen on his signs and his website, .

While Fassbender鈥檚 prior experience and name recognition would appear to make him the front-runner in the campaign, he said he isn鈥檛 taking anything for granted.

鈥淚 do not assume anything,鈥� he said.

The issue of homelessness is something that comes up at almost every door stop conversation Fassbender has had since his campaign got underway.

鈥淰irtually at every door,鈥� Fassbender said.

People want solutions, he says, but they are hard to find.

He thinks one approach that might help is to make housing more affordable by encouraging construction of more stock to drive prices down.

His campaign announcement said that part of his platform is to ensure that the City of 91原创 continues to be a strong voice in the region.

鈥淲ith the number of new mayors and councillors in Metro Vancouver, it will be important to have strong and visionary leadership at the many regional tables, including the mayors council for TransLink,鈥� Fassbender said.

鈥淲e are at a critical time in the province and region when it comes to issues of transportation; housing supply and affordability; homelessness and the opioid crisis to name only a few,鈥� Fassbender said.

dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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