Ward 13 Coun. Tanya Park announced she will be running to become London’s new mayor in the upcoming municipal election.
Park announced her intention to run at an event this afternoon at the London Food Incubator in the Old East Village.
“What made me decide I was going to run was the harassment allegations at city hall,” Park said.
“I saw a real lack of leadership from council during that time, and took the bull by the horns,” she said.
Her announcement comes a week after London Mayor Matt Brown — one of the most vocal supporters of Shift, the city’s bus rapid transit plans — announced he wouldn’t run for re-election.
“This current council has made the best BRT plan possible to date,” Park said.
“But I’m entirely open to improving upon the current plan. If there are things to make this plan better to meet the needs of Londoners, then I would have to do so,” she said.
She joins former police board chair Paul Paolatto, former councillor Stephen Orser, and businessman Paul Cheng on the list of those planning to run — all of whom say they plan either to scrap or change the BRT plan.
“From what I’ve seen from the other mayoral candidates, they all lack real vision and a lack of knowledge about how the municipal sector works,” Park said.
“If you don’t have that base to know how the municipality operates, then I have big fears for London if we have that as our leader.”
In February, Park told 980 CFPL she would not be running for re-election in London’s upcoming election.
“I feel that I’ve done all I can for my current ward. It’s time I go for the city’s top position, because I know through the work I’ve done, I can bring real change to the city,” she said.
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