A job interview can be a stressful undertaking no matter what type of work a person is seeking. But when that interview involves 55,000 residents spread out across a city, the process becomes all the more straining.
Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore has campaigned for office before and has experienced victory and defeat. In the 2011 civic election campaign, he said he is working hard to avoid the latter.
"The electorate can say you are doing a good job or they can say that you are not," he told The Tri-City News while sitting in his office overlooking Veterans Park. "It is the ultimate job interview. In one swoop, it could be good or it could be bad... There are many sleepless nights."
But despite the stress that comes with running for re-election, Moore said that overall he is feeling good about his campaign. He enjoys knocking on doors and engaging the voters, who he said are providing him with new ideas should he be elected to a second term.
Moore is quick to point to the accomplishments he and council have achieved in the three years since he was elected mayor.
He cites the opening of the Coast Meridian Overpass, a $134-million infrastructure project that connects north and south Port Coquitlam as one of the city's major accomplishments.
The creation of an environmental strategic plan, a heritage strategic plan and the ongoing discussions about the city's update of the master transportation plan are other initiatives he is proud of. Putting these plans into place, he said, will be a major part of the next council's three-year term.
A core service review was also conducted, which saved taxpayers $770,000 annually, a feat Moore said shows his and council's commitment to fiscal prudence.
And while the city was not successful in convincing the provincial government to bring the Evergreen Line to Port Coquitlam, he said council did have some success in Victoria on transportation. Thanks to the city's lobbying effort, a Y-joint is being planned for the SkyTrain tracks at Coquitlam Station that will allow for the eventual extension of the rapid transit line to PoCo and beyond at some point in the future.
But the last three years have not gone completely smoothly for the first-term mayor.
Some residents were angry when the city put forward a proposal that would reduce garbage collection from a weekly service to a bi-weekly schedule. In letters to the editor and to the city, many people said they did not have room to store their garbage and that the smell of the waste would attract bears and other animals.
Moore stands by the decision, however, and said the initial outrage has subsided as the public has learned more about the initiative.
When the subject comes up on the doorsteps, Moore points out that the new schedule is both environmentally and financially prudent, saving $200,000 in trucking costs and about 1,200 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions.
"When I phone people or they phone me and I talk about why we made the decision... most of the people are on board," he said. "When they only read or hear about part of it, they don't quite understand it so [the communication effort] was a failure on our side."
There was also the issue of council pay, which drew criticism following a council vote in July 2010 to give itself a 42% pay increase.
But even that issue, which Moore admits puts councillors in an awkward position, is often more palatable to the electorate once it has been properly explained.
"The percentage was high but when people got past the percentage and looked at the amount [approximately $85,000 per year salary for the mayor and $31,000 for councillors], most thought it was reasonable," he said. "Our challenge was it just hadn't been done for so long that once it was done the percentage was high."
By going door-to-door and meeting with voters, Moore said he plans to trumpet the city's accomplishments and explain council's more controversial decisions. But despite all his efforts on the campaign trail, more sleepless nights are likely in store for the mayor in advance of the Nov. 19 civic election.
CHECK HIM OUT ONLINE
For more information about Greg Moore and his re-election campaign go to www.gregmoore.ca.
