Blair Armitage sets sights on becoming New Westminster mayor

The president of a new civic party in New Westminster may pull off what second-term Mayor Wayne Wright accomplished two previous municipal elections ago: unseating an incumbent.
In 2002, Wright, who had never been on council, narrowly defeated then-mayor Helen Sparkes.
Blair Armitage has never run for any civic office in New Westminster and is not identified with provincial political parties. This fall, the 64-year-old cofounder and president of the civic party Voice New Westminster wants to win Wright’s seat at City Hall. However, he has to first secure the endorsement of his party during its nominating convention on September 22.

In a phone interview with the Straight, Armitage identified three issues he wants to focus on. For one, he noted that development costs in the city are too low compared to other jurisdictions. Armitage also wants to reduce the high taxes that city residents have to pay because the city doesn’t collect enough from developers. He likewise expressed concern about safety and security.
“I believe that changes are in order, and that you can sit back and do nothing or you take a stand and attempt to do something, and that’s where I fall into,” Armitage, former general manager of the Quilchena Golf and Country Club, said of his decision to enter civic life.
Armitage—along with a group that included former four-term city councillor Casey Cook and long-time NDP member Steve McClurg—helped found Voice New Westminster in 2007.
Cook, who failed to unseat Wright in the 2005 election, isn’t planning to seek the party’s nomination either for mayor or a slot on its council slate. Cook told the Straight he may consider running for school board.
For his part, McClurg told the Straight that he will vie for a nomination as candidate for council.

By Carlito Pablo
From the Georgia Straight