Age/occupation: 37, IT consultant
After English, Korean is the most common mother tongue in Coquitlam, yet the large demographic is not currently represented on city council. Justin Kim is hoping to change that.
The 37-year-old City Centre resident is an entrepreneur who said he wants to bring a business-like attitude to city council. He credits his experience running an IT consulting firm and his interest in serving the community as his reasons for seeking office.
"I add value," he said. "I am the right person who knows business and fiscal responsibility."
Kim said it is important to hold the line on property taxes but believes some increases may be necessary in order to maintain current service levels. He added that he would take the time to consult residents before making decisions around balancing tax increases with spending priorities.
"Zero taxes might be doable but it is not realistic to maintain what we have now," he said. "The city is growing."
Kim lives near what will soon become the Douglas College Evergreen Line station and said more needs to be done to mitigate traffic issues resulting from construction. He is also concerned about public safety issues that could arise once rapid transit to the Tri-Cities is operational.
Kim is new to civic politics but said he has been engaged in the community in other ways. He is the chair of the Korean War Commemorative Alliance and said he has done a lot of volunteer work through his church.
