Mark Sager announces candidacy for West Vancouver mayor

Former Mayor Mark Sager today launched his bid to become the next Mayor of the District of West Vancouver.

“I truly love this place we collectively call home, and I am saddened to witness so much division and conflict in West Vancouver. I believe there is a broad consensus from residents as to how our community should look and feel. I would like help to facilitate this by working with members of council and our residents to bring people together. We must recognize that the jurisdiction of a municipality is not to think we are going to change the world. Rather than try to make headlines in the news, we simply need a quiet, thoughtful, and co-operative council that reflects our community’s desires to ensure that our roads are well-maintained, our sewers are functional, our water is clean, our costs are kept in control, that we have strong fire and police departments, and we have open and transparent communication. I hope that my previous experience in office and the experience gained through my work life will be an asset as we move forward together,” Sager said.

Sager said he would like council to concentrate their efforts on the key roles of what a municipal government should focus on:

Fiscal Responsibility

• Value for taxpayers dollars, ensuring that our tax dollars are being spent prudently and all commitments are costed out for the long-term impacts of decisions made.

• Pay far greater attention to a cost-benefit analysis on matters that come before municipal council.

Thoughtful Co-operative Government

The District’s daily purpose is to build quality of life for all West Vancouver residents. Citizen-focused local government & continuous improvement of District services for West Vancouver are strong priorities. As Mayor, I will actively work to:

• Communicate to increase accessibility and transparency of local government.

• Improve engagement with both residents and businesses to ensure public feedback informs Council decision-making.

• Modernize government services to make interactions with municipal hall easier for everyone, including permit wait times for residential and commercial properties.

Traffic Solutions

A major challenge is the almost intolerable congestion on our roads at certain times of the day. Most of this traffic results from the number of people who are commuting on, off and through the North Shore. There are simply too many people travelling great distances for work in our community. Having served as vice chair at Metro, I am confident I can find the support for manageable and realistic transportation solutions.

Sager served as Mayor of West Vancouver from 1990 – 1996, a member of council for six years, and as a School Trustee for four years, the last year as Board Chair. He served as Vice-Chair of Metro Vancouver, holding numerous roles include Chairing the Budget and Administration. Mark was born and raised in West Vancouver.