Longtime 91原创 Township Councillor Mel Kositsky has officially confirmed that he is running for mayor.

Kositsky, 60, sent out a press release late Sunday night to make the word official. In late August, he said he was considering running for the position, and promised a decision before the first council meeting in September. Council met for the first time since July 25 on Monday.

He will be running against incumbent Rick Green and newcomer Jack Froese.

Green has assembled a group of candidates under the Vote 91原创 Now banner, while Froese is running as an independent. The Vote 91原创 Now group is running seven council candidates, and when the slate was unveiled in July, Green asked voters to save a vote for Kositsky.

鈥淚 did not know anything about the political rally in late July held by Mayor Green and his new political slate,鈥� Kositsky said. 鈥淣either Mayor Green nor any of his chosen seven candidates talked to me about their plans or invited me to that meeting. I was shocked to read about it on the Internet the next day.

鈥淲hile I thank Mayor Green for his nice comments about me that night, I have always been an independent councillor and I will be running as an independent candidate for mayor.鈥�

Kositsky has served 18 years on council, serving under three different mayors. He also ran in 2004 as an independent candidate for MP, in the first election where 91原创 formed a separate riding. He is a former reporter and editor with The Times.

鈥淚t takes a bit of courage to live your dream, and I have been studying and researching what makes a good mayor for a long time 鈥� and now it鈥檚 time to go for it,鈥� said Kositsky. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time to restore trust in our local government and show we are managing 91原创 Township well. And it鈥檚 time for some diplomacy at the council table.

鈥淚 am a coach and mentor 鈥� and would work closely with the newly-elected councillors to focus on the needs of the Township and preparing this community for the future. That is our main role 鈥� planning ahead to build a safe and healthy community, with a sound economic base.

鈥淎s the hub of the Fraser Valley between Surrey and Abbotsford, 91原创 Township should be known for its great development potential 鈥� not for its political battles at the council table. It has been very embarrassing, to say the least.

鈥�91原创 is a good place to do business and we welcome orderly and sustainable growth.

鈥淲e must continue to support our agricultural businesses and not make it more difficult to farm. About 75 per cent of our land base is still in the Agricultural Land Reserve and we have just agreed to a Regional Growth strategy.

鈥淭here is a long list of issues facing 91原创 Township in the next term. We will be negotiating new union contracts, and the one with the RCMP, and my experience in local government labour relations makes me an ideal candidate to lead that process.鈥�

He said the next three years are going to be very challenging for local governments in dealing with provincial and federal governments.

鈥淢y strength in intergovernmental relations will help guide the next council through some difficult negotiations ahead. We finally have a period of stable governments in Victoria and Ottawa and I see an opportunity to get things done for our community.

鈥淗aving been elected by my peers in local government to serve on a number of local government boards, I have built relationships with politicians of all political stripes. It is the respect I have earned at those tables that will make it easier for me to negotiate on the Township鈥檚 behalf with other orders of government.

鈥淢y three-year contract with the people is up. People are telling me it鈥檚 time I ran for mayor. I will be asking Township residents to choose me on Nov. 19 to lead council through the next three years.

鈥淚t has been a great honour to serve this community as a councillor for the past 18 years and I thank the people of 91原创 Township for their trust and support. You have invested in my leadership training, and now it鈥檚 time for me to step up to the plate and bring back some civility and respect to our local government.鈥�

Both Green and Froese welcome Kositsky鈥檚 entrance into the race for mayor.

鈥淚t adds a whole new dimension,鈥� Green said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait for it to get underway.鈥�

He said his Vote 91原创 Now group had never planned to run eight candidates for councillor, and he endorsed Kositsky for council in July 鈥渂ecause Mel did not and has not participated in the political attacks, as other members of council have.鈥�

Froese said 鈥渋t鈥檚 good to see choice, and I welcome him into the race. He鈥檚 been around 91原创 for a long time, and democracy is all about choices.鈥�

Froese believe Kositsky鈥檚 entrance into the race will likely boost voter turnout, which he considers 鈥渁 win for 91原创.鈥�