A lower mainland businessman is vying for Surrey council and Whistler mayor at the same time. The decision “surprised” the resort town’s mayor and elicited laughter from a local councillor.
Surrey citizen Jag Bhandari filed nomination papers for both municipal elections earlier this month.
Bhandari said he’s running in two races at the same time because there’s too many issues to be ignored.
In Surrey, he said he wants to take action on crime, homelessness, traffic and drugs. “I don’t want a city where you have to watch your back,” he said.
His aspirations in Whistler include making housing more affordable and ensuring the 2010 Olympic infrastructure benefits the municipality.
Though both town councils meet on Monday nights, Bhandari said he’ll try to pass a resolution that moves Whistler’s meetings to another day.
In addition to his political aspirations, he said he runs Century 21 Apex International Services Ltd., owns 22 companies and stars in and produces T.V. shows.
Bhandari doesn’t own any property in Whistler and said he’s visited the resort town “probably 6 to 10 times.” (Local election rules state a mayoral candidate must be an adult Canadian who has lived in B.C. for the last six months).
Bhandari said he’s “not into skiing,” but would like to learn how this winter.
Asked why he chose to run in a municipality where it seems he has no personal stakes, he didn’t give a clear answer.
“National pride,” he said, appearing to allude to the upcoming Olympics. “Because I’m a real Canadian.”
Incumbent council hopeful Ralph Forsyth said Bhandari’s name is virtually unknown in Whistler. But that hasn’t stopped the mayoral candidate from trying to make a big splash in the Nov. 15 election, he added.
“I went into a council meeting last night,” Forsyth said. “I came out at 8:30 and it was like there was a blizzard of Jag Bhandari signs.”
He estimated the candidate set up at least 100 hundred campaign signs. Some of those, he said, contravene local bylaws which forbid signs on municipal property such as road medians.
“I find it comical,” Forsyth said between laughs. “If you can’t abide by the bylaws of the community how can you be expected to set them?”
Whistler Mayor Ken Melamed said he was “surprised” when he learned of Bhandari’s candidacy. “I’ve never heard the name before,” Melamed said. “I would have to call it a very long shot.”
But the mayor was careful not to rule out Bhandari's chances altogether.
“I think it would be very challenging for him to win,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to try to dampen anybody’s dreams though.”
Geoff Dembicki is a staff reporter for The Hook.
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