鈥淲ithout choice, there is no democracy.鈥�

That, in a nutshell, is the reason auto technician Ron Abgrall has decided to make a second run at the mayor鈥檚 chair in 91原创 City.

Although his chief concern is ensuring that sitting mayor Peter Fassbender doesn鈥檛 run unopposed, Abgrall has given some thought to the issues facing 91原创 City and the changes he鈥檇 like to see happen over the next three years.

鈥淧eople always complain, but we keep hiring the same men over and over and expect them to be different,鈥� said Abgrall, chatting over coffee in a 91原创 City coffee shop near his apartment.

This is as close to a campaign headquarters as the 49-year-old candidate has. He is courting votes through what he describes as a 鈥渇iscally responsible鈥� campaign.

鈥淚鈥檓 not spending any money. It鈥檚 all word of mouth.鈥�

And that鈥檚 not the only way Abgrall is different from your average municipal candidate, he insists.

鈥淚鈥檓 not a politician, I鈥檓 a community-minded person,鈥� said the father of two who has lived in 91原创 City for the past 20 years.

The City鈥檚 official motto is The Place to Be, but as far as Abgrall is concerned, it should be 鈥淭he Place to Belong.鈥�

He envisions a City that includes an extensive arts and culture facility, complete with a playhouse, museum and recreation centre.

Making 91原创 City a destination in the Lower Mainland for something other than a casino is a priority.

鈥淚nstead of earning money here and spending it elsewhere, let鈥檚 have 91原创 City be a focal place for families to come to,鈥� he said.

鈥淎 casino 鈥�  it鈥檚 a sad state of affairs if that鈥檚 what we have to draw visitors.鈥�

Though he concedes it鈥檚 hardly unique in this way, the City has problems with prostitution, drug dealing and youth violence, Abgrall said.

鈥淲hat do children need to feel comfortable and safe?鈥�

There need to be enough family-friendly activities to keep kids engaged and off the streets, he said.

He envisions a place in the City鈥檚 light industrial area for an indoor go-kart track, for instance. 鈥淚鈥檇 spend time there with my kids.鈥�

However Abgrall believes that any growth must be funded through Development Cost Charges (DCCs), not through increased taxation of residential or business property owners.

鈥淲e need to ensure developers foot the bill for infrastructure,鈥� he said.

The former provincial Green Party candidate would like to see more focus on the environment than on more roads and buildings.

The first step to achieving any of this, he said, is engaging the community through an open and transparent government.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e only getting 10 people out for a public information session, you鈥檙e doing a poor job.

鈥淗ow do you make people care more in the City? When the food鈥檚 a little bland, you have to spice it up.鈥�