Four independents may be vying for the mayor’s chair, but that’s not the only seat being eyed by partyless candidates.
Former TEAM Burnaby candidates Jeff Kuah and Tom Tao have thrown their hats into the ring, announcing they are each running for council. In the last election, Kuah ran for school board under the TEAM banner while Tao was the party’s mayoral candidate.
Prior to the 2011 election, Kuah ran for mayor in Vancouver in 2008. He also ran as a B.C. Liberal for the Burnaby-Edmonds riding in the 2013 provincial election.
He’s giving municipal politics another go, riding on the 1750s revolutionary slogan “No taxation without representation.”
“The people are sick and tired of this majority in Burnaby, and I need to give them my leadership,” he said. “I just want to bring the revolution, that’s it. I’m that kind of guy.”
Kuah, an educator and recruitment officer in B.C., said he decided to run for council instead of school board because he feels he can do more for Burnaby residents on council.
In addition to his run for mayor three years ago, Tao ran against Corrigan for the same spot in 2005, and also ran as a councillor in 2002 and 2008. The NOW was unable to reach Tao for comment regarding his current run, but his bio on the City of Burnaby’s website states he demands transparency and accountability.
Last time around, TEAM garnered 16.5 per cent of the mayoral vote, 30.5 per cent of the council vote and 22.9 per cent of the school board vote.
Kuah and Tao will be on the Nov. 15 ballot, running against council candidates from the incumbent Burnaby Citizens Association and the opposing Burnaby First Coalition.
