Parksville Coun. Bill Neufeld has repeated his pledge of more than 18 months ago to run for mayor in the municipal elections Nov. 15, saying he's "frustrated by a council too accommodating to special interest groups."
In a news release issued Tuesday, Neufeld, currently in his first term as a city councillor, said he "has too often been frustrated by a council too accommodating to special interest groups instead of the people who voted them in, too willing to make decisions behind closed doors instead of governing with transparency, and too lacking in leadership to do the things that need to be done."
"I believe the job of the city council is to work towards the needs and wishes of the citizens, and too often those needs have been ignored," he said, adding that "Parksville needs a mayor who will truly listen to the community and not be beholden to special interests or powerful friends."
"As a lone city councillor, it was far too easy for (Neufeld's) demands for transparency and accountability to be lost on deaf ears."
Neufeld invites residents to visit his website (www.billneufeld.com) and he said he will be available for residents to discuss issues every Wednesday, between 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Cha-Cha Java.
Neufeld said residents can follow him on Twitter (@bill_neufeld) or e-mail him at bill@billneufeld.com.
— NEWS Staff/News release