Three candidates vying to be Coquitlam’s next mayor

It’s a three-way race in Coquitlam as Coun. Craig Hodge, Madhavee Inamdar, and Coun. Trish Mandewo all look to move into the mayor’s office as Richard Stewart retires.

Craig Hodge

In announcing his candidacy, Hodge positioned himself as a candidate for continuity while putting an emphasis on public safety.

“Our crime rate remains one of the lowest in the region, but people don’t feel as safe as they used to, as street disorder is increasing in cities across our country,” he said.

Hodge has also expressed support for more RCMP foot patrols, community safety officers, and dedicated resources to address gang activity.

Madhavee Inamdar

Public sector strategist Madhavee Inamdar positioned herself as a candidate for change.

“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.”

Inamdar favoured introducing a property tax support package for low-income seniors and undertaking a citywide value-for-money review to evaluate spending.

Trish Mandewo

In announcing her campaign, Coun. Trish Mandewo emphasized the predicted the next decade, “will bring a different scale of challenge,” requiring ambition and discipline.

“Growth should pay for growth. A growing city should mean more taxpayers sharing the load — not the same taxpayers continually paying more,” she stated.

Mandewo’s priorities include adding a range of housing choices, attracting businesses and jobs, and expanding Coquitlam’s commercial tax base. The former Union of B.C. Municipalities president also emphasized the importance of development contributing fairly to infrastructure and services.

Besides Stewart’s departure, experienced councillors Dennis Marsden and Brent Asmundson are stepping away from city hall.

A total of 20 candidates are competing for eight spots on council.

Behzad Abdi

An engineer, educator, and head of the Tri-City Iranian Cultural Society, Behzad Abdi emphasized the importance of getting value for tax dollars.

“My priority is to test whether better efficiency, technology, process improvements and responsible revenue strategies can reduce the pressure on taxpayers before future increases are approved,” he stated.

Besides advocating for a city-wide efficiency review, Abdi advocated for greater transparency with information about budgets and delays available to public view through an online dashboard.

Abdi also discussed fixing high-risk intersections and publishing an annual road safety map.

Phillip Buchan

Having served as president of the Burke Mountain Naturalists and vice-president of the Riverview Horticultural Centre Society, Buchan stated that he would: “push for a stronger Urban Forest Management strategy which will enable the city to move faster to meet its climate goals and targets.”

Buchan’s priorities include a focus on “truly affordable housing.” He also stated that he wouldn’t accept any campaign donations from developers,

Tali Campbell

President and General Manager of the Coquitlam Express, Tali Campbell listed four top priorities: safe neighbourhoods, responsible growth, stronger service options and fiscal responsibility.

“I’m not running because Coquitlam is broken, I’m running because I spent six years helping build here.”

Campbell emphasized the importance of building partnerships while running the Express.

“I’ve had the privilege of building relationships with residents, business owners, community organizations, and local leaders who care deeply about our city’s future. I’m running for city council because I believe it’s time to put my experience to work in service of the community that I proudly call home,” he stated.

Ali Cina

As a 22-year-old SFU student who does security consulting work, Cina is running to bring a new viewpoint to municipal politics.

“I’m running for city council to bring a younger, straight-talking perspective to city hall: a lower cost of living, real transparency, and a government that treats residents like owners of the city, not customers of it,” he stated.

His key priorities include tackling the affordability crisis and increasing transparency at city hall, with more notice prior to the consideration of neighbourhood changing projects.

He pledged to fight for lighter municipal taxes on residents and small businesses and simpler permitting.

Cina also volunteers at Eagle Ridge Hospital.

Matt Djonlic

Djonlic’s priorities including a new library branch at Burquitlam, investing in sports fields and ice rinks while maintaining core services including new parks and sidewalks.

Djonlic also discussed working with non-profits to build subsidized housing on city land.

Discussing a possible 1,100-unit development at 1145 Inlet Street in 2023, Djonlic was critical of the lack of below-market units. The housing being replaced, “is some of Coquitlam’s desperately needed affordable housing stock,” he said at the time.

Djonlic served on the library board and represented city council on the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group.

In terms of advocacy, Djonlic stated that he would lobby for more bus service and an Urgent and Primary Care Centre in Coquitlam.

Habib Jamshidian

(No information received.)

Steve Kim

Running for a third term on council, incumbent Steve Kim emphasized the importance of “planning and investing wisely for a livable city.”

Besides investing in parks, recreation, and city infrastructure, Kim noted the need to “manage taxes for today and tomorrow” by maintaining Coquitlam’s tax stabilization plan and asset management efforts.

“When I first asked for your support in 2018, I made a simple commitment to listen, work collaboratively, and make thoughtful decisions that balance current priorities with the long-term interests of our community,” Kim stated in a press release. “Those values continue to guide me today.”

Kim also emphasized the need to encourage entrepreneurship and attract investment to support a strong local economy.

Geneviève Kyle-Lefebvre

In announcing her campaign, nonprofit executive Geneviève Kyle-Lefebvre emphasized the importance of collaboration.

“No councillor accomplishes anything alone. Good local government requires working with residents, other members of council, city staff, community organizations, businesses and other levels of government. I have spent years bringing people together around common goals, and that is the kind of leadership I want to bring to city hall.”

Over the years, Kyle-Lefebvre has served on community boards and committees and run a show on Tri-Cities Community TV.

“Community has always been at the heart of everything I do,” said Kyle-Lefebvre. “I believe leadership starts with listening. It means being present, building relationships and then taking action.”

Robert Mazzarolo

Following his first term on council, Robert Mazzarolo’s priorities include pushing for a family-size housing policy and advocating for increased transit and medical services.

During his first term, Mazzarolo contended that two- and three-bedroom units should comprise 60 percent of each new development, while studio units should be capped at less than 10 percent.

“It has been a privilege to serve Coquitlam residents these past four years on city council, and I am deeply grateful for the trust residents have placed in me. I am eager to continue to build upon that trust and deliver results for Coquitlam residents,” Mazzarolo stated in a press release.

In 2023, Mazzarolo cast the lone vote against a Burke Mountain subdivision that created 19 single-family lots. Mazzarolo argued the city shouldn’t be create another neighbourhood characterized by single-family houses.

In the press release announcing his candidacy, Mazzarolo listed several council accomplishments including opening the new pool at Mundy Park, breaking ground on the Burke Mountain Community Centre, and advancing two non-market and one market seniors’ housing sites.

Cameron McBryer

(No information received.)

Benjamin Perry

Healthcare worker and longtime Coquitlam resident Benjamin Perry is running to protect parks, trees, and natural areas.

Perry’s campaign also prioritizes ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with growth and making local government more accessible.

“Over the past decade, I have spoken with thousands of people in Coquitlam about housing, traffic, development, taxes, the environment, and many other issues,” Perry stated in his campaign announcement. “What I hear consistently is that residents want growth and change to work for them. They want their needs to be prioritized at city hall.”

Perry has previously been critical of council for failing to adopt the Zero Carbon Step Code, which is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in new buildings.

Perry pledged not to accept campaign donations from executives or owners of property development companies.

Shereen Samimi

(No photo received.)

A Coquitlam resident since 2010, Shereen Samimi is looking to bring a health-based perspective to city planning.

“Health and well-being cannot be separated from the communities we build. Housing, transportation, the environment, social connection, and access to community spaces all influence whether people can thrive,” she stated in her campaign announcement. “I believe we need to bring a social-determinants-of-health lens into local policy and decision-making.”

Samimi described affordable housing as a foundation for health and stability.

“Everyone deserves the ability to find a safe and affordable place to call home,” she stated.

Samimi also supported incorporating the public health perspective into the way the city addresses traffic and creates community spaces.

Matthew Sebastiani

Having served on boards with the Coquitlam Foundation, Place des Arts, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, Matthew Sebastiani’s platform supports economic diversification and diverse housing options.

“Coquitlam is the city that raised me, and all that I do is rooted in gratitude,” Sebastiani stated in a press release. “Now, I am prepared to bring that same service-driven leadership to City Hall to ensure Coquitlam remains an affordable, safe, and family-friendly community for every generation.”

Emphasizing the importance of finding practical solutions to affordability concerns, Sebastiani supports a variety of housing types including family-sized units and housing for seniors.

His platform also includes advocating for an Urgent and Primary Care Centre in Coquitlam and finding long-term solutions for 3030 Gordon Ave.

He has also worked as a senior analyst at the Bank of Canada.

Harvey Su

Placing an emphasis on supporting local business, Harvey Su noted his background in science and business.

“Leadership starts with listening,” Su stated in a press release. “I’m ready to continue the conversation, earn your trust, and work hard every day to represent our community with integrity and purpose.”

Su’s campaign envisions an inclusive community with greater public safety and improved community infrastructure.

“I’ve heard your concerns, your ideas, and your hopes for our city. I’m running because I care deeply about this community and believe we can build an even stronger, more connected Coquitlam together.”

Su previously ran in 2022.

Kash Tayal

As a tech entrepreneur, Kash Tayal is campaigning to bring an entrepreneurial mindset to city hall.

“I know what it means to build something from nothing and manage a balance sheet under pressure,” Tayal stated in a press release.

With young families struggling to gain a foothold in the city’s housing market, Tayal stated that he supports reducing municipal red tape and fast-tracking permits. That approach will, “lower development costs and increase the supply of attainable homes,” according to his website.

He also advocated for multi-bedroom family housing as opposed to small condos.

In the 2024 provincial election, Tayal was announced as the B.C. United candidate for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain. He ended his campaign when party leader Kevin Falcon suspended the B.C. United campaign.

Jane Thomsing

As an education assistant and an environmental ambassador, Jane Thomsing’s campaign focuses on housing.

“Everyone deserves access to a safe and affordable place to call home, and that housing growth should include a range of options for people at different stages of life, from young adults to seniors,” Thomsing stated in a press release announcing her candidacy.

As Coquitlam densifies, city council needs to balance that growth with: “safety, environmental responsibility, and affordability,” according to Thomsing, who emphasized the need for parks, schools, and community safety resources.

Thomsing’s other priorities include: “improving compassionate responses to mental health challenges.”

Besides working in schools and supporting people with developmental disabilities in their homes, Thomsing volunteers as a Nature Ambassador with the Lower Coquitlam River Nature Association.

Rosalinda Thorleifson

Lifelong Coquitlam resident Rosalinda Thorleifson’s campaign focuses on managing the city’s rapid growth while attracting jobs and ensuring infrastructure and services keep pace.

Her platform calls for more two and three-bedroom homes, while ensuring schools, parks and other community services keep pace with population growth.

“I grew up in Coquitlam and I love this city,” Thorleifson said in a statement announcing her campaign. “Now I want to bring that same drive to city hall: affordability people can actually feel, the right mix of housing so residents can keep a high quality of life, and a local economy that brings good, well-paying jobs close to home.”

Her “Coquitlam Works” proposal calls for recruiting employers to areas near SkyTrain stations and industrial areas such as United Boulevard, with the goal of diversifying the city’s economy and easing pressure on residential property taxes.

Teri Towner

Longtime councillor Teri Towner is looking to put her experience to work next term as the city navigates continued growth, housing pressures, affordability, transportation, public safety, infrastructure needs and significant changes resulting from provincial housing legislation.

“These are complex issues without simple solutions,” said Towner. “Good local government means listening to people, understanding the full picture, considering long-term impacts and working collaboratively to find practical, common-sense solutions.”

Towner currently chairs Coquitlam’s Economic Development Advisory Committee and Cultural Services Advisory Committee and serves on regional committees focused on issues including affordable housing and governance. She is active with Local Leaders for Mental Health advocating for mental health supports and focuses her volunteerism on seniors and environmental initiatives.

“I want young people to see a future for themselves here, families to be able to put down roots, and seniors to be able to remain connected to the community they know and love,” said Towner. “As Coquitlam grows, we need to ensure we are building complete communities with the infrastructure, amenities and services people need.”

Lili Tran

Citing her background in civil infrastructure and community advocacy, Lien (Lili) Tran is running to make Coquitlam more affordable, connected and sustainable.

“Coquitlam is a city with enormous potential, and residents deserve a council who listens carefully, communicates transparently, and put the residents’ everyday concerns at the centre of local decision-making,” Tran stated.

Tran’s stated priorities include improving housing affordability while supporting a wider range of housing options, and “ensuring new development is matched with infrastructure, parks, schools, and transportation planning.”

On the issue of transportation, Tran supported improving Coquitlam’s walkability while boosting cycling and transit options to: “support a cleaner, healthier, lower-carbon Coquitlam.”

Environmental stewardship and expanded access to childcare and early learning programs are also among Tran’s priorities.

Harry Warren

Harry Warren is looking to simplify municipal politics.

“City hall doesn’t need to be complicated. There is too much paperwork and too many steps required to get things done,” he stated on his website. “K.I.S.S. (Keep It Super Simple) is about looking at where we can cut unnecessary paperwork, simplify regulations and make city policies and permit requirements easier to understand.”

Warren’s campaign prioritizes: “encouraging more residents to participate, speak up, and have a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect their community.”

The election is scheduled for Oct. 17.

Other priorities include supporting local businesses and protecting parks and public spaces.