North Van’s Mussatto not seeking re-election
The city of North Vancouver’s Darrell Mussatto is the latest Metro Vancouver mayor to announce he won’t run for re-election this fall.
Mussatto, 57, has served on the city’s council for almost 25 years, first as a councillor for four terms, then four terms as mayor.
Mussatto said he got into politics to make a difference and give back to the community — in particular to make the city more environmentally sustainable.
“I’ve accomplished the goals,” he said. “I think that what I really wanted to do, I’ve achieved.”
This includes densifying the city and reducing the city ’s greenhouse gas emissions. Mussatto is particularly proud of the Lonsdale Energy Corporation, an award-winning district energy system.
“I think we have a more sustainable community, we’ve got a more livable community, and we’ve got a great place to live,” Mussatto said. “We’ve done a lot. I’ve been an agent of change, there’s no doubt about that. The old ways of doing things weren’t working any more.”
Mussatto said he feels honoured to have served his community, but he’s ready to move on.
“It’s a very stressful job,” Mussatto said. “It takes a toll in your private life, your family life, and I like a bit of change myself, so I need to take another step and do something else.”
What that step will be, Mussatto hasn’t yet decided. Outside of politics, he was a paramedic for 30 years, and has worked as a high school teacher. What he does know is that he’s not ready to retire.
“I have a lot of energy left,” he said. “I’ve given the city a lot and the city has given me a lot.”
Mussatto is the seventh mayor in the region who has indicated they won’t seek re-election. That list includes Gregor Robertson (Vancouver), Greg Moore (Port Coquitlam), Ted Schaffer (city of Langley), Nicole Read (Maple Ridge), Wayne Baldwin (White Rock) and Lois Jackson (Delta).