SFU student declares candidacy for Coquitlam council

Ali Cina, a 21-year-old Simon Fraser University student, has announced his candidacy as an independent for Coquitlam council in the Oct. 17 municipal election.

A Tri-Cities resident who grew up in the area and has lived in Coquitlam since 2018, Cina is running a grassroots campaign built almost entirely by himself and a small team of volunteers, from the website and launch video to the door-knocking operation.

Cina’s platform is built around three pillars:

Cost of living, lowering property taxes and diversifying city revenue so residents and small businesses aren’t carrying the burden alone.

Transparency, making city spending truly transparent, from a budget tool residents can easily understand to itemized, quarterly reporting instead of once a year.

Community voice, giving residents a real say, with earlier notice and genuine consultation before council makes major decisions.

“I’m not running because I’ve spent decades in politics,” said Cina. “I’m running because I’ve spent my life in this community, I’ve talked to the residents and small business owners living these problems, and I think it’s time someone who actually understands them helps fix them.”

Cina also points to low civic engagement as part of what drives his campaign. In the 2022 municipal election, only about one in five eligible Coquitlam voters cast a ballot. “Most of council was decided by a small slice of the city,” he said. “If people show up this time, their voice carries real weight.” Cina is a Computer Science and Political Science student at SFU. Alongside his studies, he works locally, volunteers with Fraser Health’s community research team at Eagle Ridge Hospital, and does freelance web development, software development, and security consulting.