After serving one term as a Liberal MLA, former 91原创 City mayor is considering a return to municipal politics.
鈥淚鈥檝e had lots of people approach me,鈥� Fassbender told the Times.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 made a final decision. If I run, it will be for mayor.鈥�
Fassbender said he would decide soon, likely by the end of this month or early next month.
鈥淚 would only do it if I believe I had something to contribute to the community (and) I would have to feel it鈥檚 the best for me and my wife.鈥�
Fassbender stepped down from the mayor鈥檚 job after winning his MLA seat in Surrey-Fleetwood, a move which then saw current City mayor Ted Schaffer named acting 91原创 City mayor after council decided against holding a byelection.
Schaffer filled the acting role for 16 months until the municipal election.
Then, he removed the 鈥渁cting鈥� title by running and winning the election as mayor in the 2014 municipal mayoralty race, defeating his nearest opponent by more than 2,000 votes.
The 91原创 City mayor鈥檚 chair has opened up once again with Schaffer鈥檚 announcement that he will retire in October at the end of the term.
So far, two incumbent 91原创 City councillors, Paul Albrecht and Van van den Broek, have declared for the mayoralty.
Fassbender was on the 91原创 School Board from 1975 to 1979.
He was first elected to 91原创 City as a councillor in 2002, and then as mayor in the 2005, 2008 and 2011 elections.
Great Volunteer gathering at the Campaign Office!!!
鈥� Peter Fassbender (@Fassbender_BC)
Fassbender was serving as mayor when he was elected MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood in the 2013 provincial election.
He was appointed Minister of Education during a bitter labour dispute with the B.C. Teachers Federation that ended with a settlement after five days of round-the-clock talks.
He then served minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and minister responsible for TransLink.
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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