DOA punk legend, activist Keithley to run for mayor’s chair in Burnaby
Local punk legend and longtime activist Joe Keithley is running for mayor of Burnaby.
Keithley was born and raised in the city and is best known as a member of influential punk band DOA.
He announced plans to run for mayor under the Burnaby Civic Green party banner on Monday.
“It is time for a fresh start in Burnaby,” Keithley said in a statement announcing his campaign. “(Current mayor Derek) Corrigan and the (Burnaby Citizens Association) council have been pushing their same old agenda for the last 30 years. As your mayor, I will take a common-sense approach and work for all of our citizens.”
The Burnaby Civic Greens will run a full slate for all elected positions in Burnaby.
As mayor, Keithley says he would increase affordable housing and rental units, freeze property taxes for a minimum of two years and halt demovictions in the Metrotown area. He also plans to institute term limits for elected officials, distance citizens’ committees from the mayor’s office and make Burnaby a more sustainable and greener city.
Keithley also says he will “do whatever it takes to stop potential harm to the citizens and the environment of Burnaby” while opposing the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.
“People distrust politicians, and I would say with good reason, because they don’t listen to the voters,” he said. “I will fight for and demand that everyone’s voice is heard.”
Last year, Keithley ran to become Burnaby-Lougheed MLA as part of the B.C. Greens. He came in third behind the NDP’s Katrina Chen and the Liberals’ Steve Darling.
Keithley is an author, award-winning musician, a business owner and a union supporter for more than three decades. In 2016, he was inducted into the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame. He has also coached youth soccer, baseball and lacrosse, while raising three kids with his wife of 30 years in Burnaby.