Voters in the Tri-City village of Anmore head to the polls on Saturday to replace a councillor who quit six months into his first term.
Three candidates are running to fill Tim Laidler's chair in the Sept. 22 byelection though only one of the applicants lives in the semi-rural community.
Last week, The Tri-City News asked the trio to supply a brief biography and to list the reasons why they are seeking a place on council. Here are their answers, in summary:
Arthur Crossman: A Coquitlam resident, Crossman is retired and has run for municipal office in several jurisdictions - often at the same time - as well as for a provincial seat. In 2010, he sought the mayor's post in Anmore but lost to incumbent Heather Anderson. Crossman did not provide information to The Tri-City News about his campaign;
Sagheer (Sager) Jan: A Port Moody resident who has worked as a logistics manager and planning assistant with the United Nations in Monrovia, Liberia, Jan is running "because village of Anmore is safe, beautiful and should be kept as it is," he stated. Jan describes himself as a trustworthy, passionate and dedicated worker who has volunteered in Vancouver, Coquitlam and Port Moody and "now the opportunity to work for the village of Anmore as a councillor will provide me again to contribute and to serve the community by understanding and working together for their concerns and issues, to help promote the village of Anmore with open and transparent policies and procedures";
and Ann-Marie Thiele: An Anmore resident for 13 years, Thiele and her husband have three children who attend school in the village. The stay-at-home mother wants to hold municipal office "to be a steward of the things that Anmore residents hold most dear: Our magnificent (yet fragile) environment, our unique semi-rural atmosphere, our strong community spirit and our low tax rates." Thiele states her work on village committees and as a community volunteer "has given me an understanding of the workings of the village and the unique challenges faced by our community.... I have a willingness to listen to the voices of residents, along with a proven commitment to the future of the village of Anmore."
Voting takes place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the village hall (2697 Sunnyside Rd.).
