Coquitlam woman launches bid to become mayor

A 22-year Coquitlam resident has officially launched her candidacy for mayor of Coquitlam.

Madhavee Inamdar is a public sector strategist who wants to become just the second woman mayor in Coquitlam’s history after Maxine Wilson.

The decision marks a transition from her initial city council bid following door-knocking and community conversations across the city.

“Coquitlam must grow, but growth must be matched by infrastructure, accountability, and compassion,” said Inamdar. “After speaking with hundreds of residents, it became clear that our challenges require more than individual council interventions or business-as-usual continuity. People want real change. Coquitlam needs leadership that sets firm priorities, holds city administration accountable, and advocates effectively with our regional and provincial partners.”

Inamdar has outlined four commitments for her first year in office:

Growth with Guarantees: Mandating public infrastructure capacity and climate impact assessments prior to approving major discretionary growth proposals, accompanied by an annual municipal infrastructure capacity scorecard.
City Hall Transparency: Initiating an independent, citywide Value-for-Money Review within her first 100 days to evaluate spending, optimize service delivery, and support frontline services.
Targeted Affordability: Introducing a dedicated property tax support package for low-income seniors within the first budget cycle and initiating the process for Coquitlam to become an accredited Living Wage Employer.
Connected Neighbourhoods & Community Advocacy: Publishing a comprehensive plan for walkable 15-minute neighbourhoods and extreme-weather refuges, joining neighbouring municipalities in the “Sue Big Oil” lawsuit, and driving a multi-government advocacy plan for mental health services at səmiq̓ʷəʔelə/Riverview grounds under Indigenous stewardship. 

Inamdar brings over two decades of public sector leadership experience spanning strategic governance, policy design, stakeholder partnerships, and executive administration. She holds postgraduate degrees in political science, international relations, and strategic studies, is certified in AI Systems Management and AI Ethics from the London School of Economics and completed executive leadership training at Oxford Saïd Business School. She is also the co-founder of Coquitlam-based non-profit Inclusive AI Foundation.