Port Moody council could become a family affair now that Zoe Royer has announced her intention to run for re-election on Nov. 15.
Earlier this month, the councillor's husband, Gaetan Royer, who is also the former PoMo city manager, kicked off his campaign for the mayor's seat, challenging incumbent Mike Clay.
Having a married couple on the same council would be a first for the Tri-Cities but that doesn't bother the Royers.
In separate interviews Tuesday, both candidates said they remain independent and, should they both win, will treat each member of council with respect and impartiality.
"I believe that all locally elected officials need to vote in the best interests of the community and that their voices should be independent and non-partisan, and I believe my voting record proves that," said Zoe Royer. "I believe my integrity is above reproach and I treasure my reputation more than my name."
Gaetan Royer said he's running for mayor based on his record in the community, and said neither his wife's role as a current city councillor nor her plans to run for re-election influenced his decision to enter the race.
"I intend to work collaboratively with all members of council," he said. "People who are looking at my record know I've always treated everyone with respect in all the meetings I've led."
Neither anticipated any issues - should they both win - when it comes to navigating city politics and the heated debates that can arise at council meetings.
"The biggest job the mayor has to do is manage the agenda, and I think that's the place where I can bring a lot of aptitude... to make sure we always have a really inclusive council where people are being heard," said Gaetan Royer. "I intend to treat everyone fairly and with respect."
And when it comes to bringing home stress from the office, Zoe Royer said it's bound to happen but they plan to handle it by maintaining "respectful and open-minded relationships" with colleagues.
The Royers aren't the first family members to run concurrently for a city council in Metro Vancouver.
In Richmond, Greg Halsey-Brandt was a city councillor along with his wife, Evelina Halsey-Brandt and his ex-wife, Sue Halsey-Brandt, from 2008 to 2011.
"I found that in dealing with the issues, we each had our own point of view but, most of the time, they were similar, otherwise we wouldn't be married - or we wouldn't last very long," Greg Halsey-Brandt said with a laugh.
In fact, he said, it was nice to have a spouse on council with whom to discuss ideas and gain new insight into the issues being debated.
Also helpful was being able to attend the many city functions, events and ribbon-cuttings with his spouse, Greg Halsey-Brandt said. "It really becomes your dominant social life, and to be able to have your spouse with you at events... that was really pleasant."
Evelina Halsey-Brandt, who is not running for re-election on Nov. 15 - thus ending a 33-year run of Halsey-Brandts on Richmond council - said she and her husband were lucky in that they happened to agree on most issues.
"And when we didn't agree, if I could, I tried to change his mind," she joked, "but I wasn't always successful in getting him to see the light.
"But leaving issues at council and not bringing them home is important, otherwise we wouldn't have survived," she added.
"But that's the same with any council. It wouldn't matter if you were married to the mayor or not, I found if [the debate] was left at council chambers, I could get along with everybody."
