Photo Mark Klotz
Burnaby South NDP MP Kennedy Stewart has announced he's running to be Vancouver's next mayor.
In a series of tweets, Stewart says "big challenges need bold action–building housing, protecting the environment, supporting an equitable economy, stopping drug overdose deaths. I want to work with all progressive voters to make Vancouver even better."
Last week, Burnaby Now reported that he was “seriously considering” a run for the mayor’s seat in Vancouver and was pleasantly surprised by a Research Co. poll where 10 per cent of respondents listed him as a "good choice" for mayor.
The poll results placed him in fifth place behind Non-Partisan Association Coun. Hector Bremner (11 per cent), independent Jean Swanson (17 per cent), Vision Vancouver Coun. Raymond Louie (19 per cent). Green Party of Vancouver Coun. Adriane Carr was in first with 35 per cent public support.
Stewart will step down as an MP to run as an independent and says, "the only way to fight the NPA’s politics of division is with unity and compassion."
He is the NDP's Science Critic and BC Caucus Chair holding a PhD from the London School of Economics and is currently on-leave as a professor from Simon Fraser University’s School of Public Policy.
Stewart was arrested in March on Burnaby Mountain at a protest against the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, which he says his constituents do not want to be built.
According to his official bio, Kennedy was a West Coast Music Award winning musician before entering politics and has worked as a printing press operator, waiter, and clerk at the Metrotown Radio Shack.
He lives in Burnaby with his wife Jeanette Ashe who teaches politics at Douglas College.
Vancouver's municipal election is set for October 20, 2018.
