Tsawwassen resident John Meech to run for mayor

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John Meech is the fourth candidate to announce his bid for Delta mayor in the November civic election.

A member of the new electoral organization Renew Delta, the Tsawwassen resident joins incumbent Mayor Lois Jackson, Coun. Heather King and former councillor Krista Engelland in the race for the mayor's seat.

"We need a new way to govern our affairs that unites all of Delta and share the wonder and beauty of our land," Meech said in a Renew Delta press release.

Meech is a professor at UBC in the department of mining and engineering where he heads up the Centre for Environmental Research in Minerals, Metals and Materials.

In his younger years, Meech spent his summers working on farms, and said he retains a strong interest in farming and the need for locally-grown produce to address future food supply issues. He served as a member of the Southlands Community Planning team, assisting in the formulation of a plan to farm the Southlands in a sustainable way.

Meech said he supports Renew Delta’s platform to engage citizens, revitalize, build a healthy, safe and vibrant community and take action on issues.

“The opportunities for Delta are outstanding and the pressures to change are enormous. We need leaders who are accessible to the people, who are listening to the people and who act and make decisions that benefit all citizens,” he said.

Meanwhile, fellow Renew Delta members Ranj Heer and Garth Cuthbert, former president of the Delta Museum and Archives Society, have both thrown their hats in the ring for seats on council.

Heer, a business owner and North Delta resident, said  bringing about revitalization of Delta is not a “lone ranger task—it will take a team of dedicated people.”

She said she has consulted widely across all Delta communities over the past four weeks.

“The message is very consistent: people want to have their voices heard and participate in the growth and renewal of our community,” she said.

—Staff writer