Former MLA Fassbender to run for mayor of Langley
Peter Fassbender, a former Liberal MLA and cabinet minister, has announced he is running for mayor in the City of Langley.
Fassbender was a councillor in Langley for one term before being serving as mayor for almost three terms. He didn’t finish his third term, entering provincial politics in May 2013.
“After serious discussions with my family and others, we have determined that I still have the energy and commitment to make a solid contribution in the next four years,” Fassbender said in a statement.
Soon after Mayor Ted Schaffer announced in December that he would not seek re-election, the rumours began that Fassbender was considering a run.
Fassbender was defeated in the 2017 provincial election in SurreyFleetwood.
As MLA, Fassbender served as minister of education, then minister of community, sport and cultural development, and also was minister responsible for TransLink, a position that put him at odds with many of the region’s mayors.
Fassbender said he was approached by many people in the city and region to run for mayor again.
He said his platform includes making sure the City of Langley, which is just 10 square kilometres and home to about 25,000 people, has a strong voice in the region.
“We are at a critical time in the province and region when it comes to issues of transportation, housing supply and affordability, homelessness and the opioid crisis, to name only a few,” Fassbender said.
Fassbender also believes that with more than half of the region’s mayors not running for re-election, he will be able to provide experience in forums such as Metro Vancouver and TransLink’s Mayors’ Council.
Fassbender is not the first provincial politician to express interest in the upcoming municipal election.
Longtime B.C. Liberal MLA Rich Coleman, who represents Langley East, had considered running for mayor in Surrey, but announced a couple of weeks ago he would be sticking with provincial politics.
Municipal elections will be held in B.C. on Oct. 20.