New Westminster’s 2013 Citizen of the Year Patrick Johnstone to run for City Council
New Westminster, BC – Patrick Johnstone has announced he is running for a seat on New Westminster City Council in the upcoming November election.
“I love New Westminster, and have always believed in working to build your community,” he said. “I think I have the skills to be an effective Councillor, to keep the City moving forward, and will bring new ideas and a strong voice to the Council table.”
Johnstone chose to make his announcement early so he can spend the summer listening to voters from the many different neighbourhoods in the city, and learn more about their concerns.
“I have been blogging and leading conversations about issues for years. I‘m not afraid to express my opinion, but a Councillor needs to listen first. That’s my goal for the summer: knocking on doors, attending events, and listening to people who will challenge my own ideas about what New Westminster wants and needs.”
The announcement might be early, but it’s not surprising. For the last couple of months, people have been asking if he was intending to run. With encouragement from the New West community, and from his supportive partner, Johnstone decided to take the plunge. “I think the timing is right for me to take my community volunteering in this new direction.”
Johnstone is a director of the New Westminster Environmental Partners, the Royal City Curling Club and the Brow of the Hill Residents Association, and he volunteers in various other capacities in the City. He has also been a noted presence in local social media, active on Twitter as @NWimby and writing a locally-focussed blog “New Westminster – In My Back Yard”.
“I am a communicator, and want to continue to communicating first as a candidate and ultimately, as a Councillor. People tell me they feel separated from decision-making in government. I want to help create stronger channels of communication, so residents are heard at the Council table, and residents better understand how and why Council makes decisions.”