Sean Lee believes he has the answers "to safeguard the future" of Coquitlam.
The information technology expert is taking a second shot at landing a spot on city council in announcing his intentions to run in the 2022 municipal election — set for Oct. 15.
Lee was a first-time candidate in the 2018 race. He was the fourth runner-up for the final council spot after accumulating 28 per cent of votes (6,793 in total).
Four years ago, he ran on a campaign believing he can transform the city and point it in the direction by attracting more medical and IT professionals to the community.
Lee said that's still possible today.
"In the presence of the COVID-19 crises, all of us have observed our healthcare system being run on the verge of collapse during each wave," Lee added in a news release sent to the Tri-City News, claiming Coquitlam has the potential to become a "cutting-edge medical city."
"Our community requires a leading-edge healthcare system to be able to effectively and efficiently protect public health and safety."
In his statement, Lee emphasized three key impacts Coquitlam is potentially facing: economic recovery, mental health crises and green space conservation.
He believes by investing time and energy in those categories, including reinstating Riverview Hospital, local residents can prosper without the need to commute elsewhere.
"At least a decade of economic crises is predictable in the aftermath of COVID-19. Taxes and costs of living will be skyrocketing. Inflation will lead to all sorts of hardships. Our community will be affected and suffer again, if we are not prepared," he said.
"Nonetheless, economic growth, such as a living wage for all citizens, is not the only factor dictating a population’s well-being. Rather, environmental well-being is a significant element determining quality of life and mental health of our population."
By day, Lee's IT expertise is in the field of predictive analysis, specializing in data collection, trend research and forecasting global prospects.
Out of the office, he's an honourary ambassador of the Republic of Korea Marine Corp., a capital raise campaign team member for the Burquitlam YMCA and a board director of the Tri-City Badminton Club.
Other council candidates who have declared their intention to run to the Tri-City News are Matt Djonlic, Ali Tootian, Harvey Su, Rob Bottos, Ben Craig, Benjamin Perry, Robert Mazzarolo, Paul Lambert, Phil Buchan and incumbents Coun. Craig Hodge, Coun. Dennis Marsden, Coun. Steve Kim, Coun. Trish Mandewo and Coun. Teri Towner.
For more information on Lee and his platform, you can visit his campaign website.
He can also be reached directly by email, sean.lee.coq@gmail.com, or through his Twitter and Instagram channels.
As well, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a series of all-candidates debates for local 2022 civic elections.
Coquitlam mayor and council nominees will get the chance to speak to the issues that matter to them, and take questions from the public, at the Evergreen Cultural Centre on Sept. 22.
