Port Moody has its first mayoral candidate for the Oct. 15 civic election.
Steve Milani announced his intention to seek the job on Thursday. Two days earlier incumbent mayor, Rob Vagramov, told councillors at the end of Tuesday’s final meeting before their summer recess that he wouldn’t be running again.
Milani was first elected to council in 2018.
During his term, Milani’s advocated for improvements to the city’s amenities, like repairing Kyle Centre and even the establishment of a columbaria in Pioneer Memorial Park where residents can place urns containing the remains of loved ones.
“The city is already way behind in terms of facilities to service its residents,” he said. “With growth comes a need for expanded amenities.”
Milani also initiated an effort to quiet construction noise in the city and he’s a big fan of mass timber construction for mid-rise development.
In a statement on his website, Milani said he believes in “open, collaborative and respectful governance” that gets “things done, rather than tying them up in red tape for years.”
Milani said the city needs to stay the course to attain its growth targets to attain 50,000 residents by 2041.
“Converting Port Moody into a bustling metropolis of high-priced condo towers is not an option.”
Milani’s lived in the city’s Moody Centre neighbourhood for 24 years.
He’s the first sitting councillor to formally declare his intention to run again.
Other residents who’ve announce their candidacy for council include (in alphabetical order):
For more information on Milani and his platform, you can visit his campaign website.
You can contact Milani directly by email: info@stevemilani.ca.
As well, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a series of all-candidates debates for local 2022 civic elections.
Port Moody 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 Inlet Theatre on Sept. 28.
