Richmond Reform kicked off its campaign at Top Gun Chinese restaurant Wednesday afternoon with a theme of “one community, one heart.”
Mayoral candidate and leader Richard Lee introduced Richmond City Council candidate Sunny Ho and Richmond Board of Education trustee candidate Kenneth Ho.
For Lee, forming a new slate is a marked difference from 2011, when he garnered just 30 per cent of the popular vote in the mayor’s race as an independent.
This time around, his press conference was replete with big posters, a master of ceremony and about 50 supporters clad in Canada-red Reform Richmond vests.
“Three years ago I ran and lost badly. I was embarrassed. This time, from July on, I started seriously considering the idea.”
To begin his campaign, supporters sang ‘Oh Canada,’ albeit many read from a paper.
Richmond Reform (no relation to other political parties) represents Richmond’s first slate of only Chinese-Canadian candidates.
However, Lee professed Richmond Reform was not a “Chinese party,” but rather a Canadian one that values the free market, democracy and the rule of law.
“This is why we live here, to be Canadian,” said Lee.
The slate has no website, to date, and only briefed media on a few issues, namely a pledge to find efficiencies at city hall in order to lower property taxes; Lee said he wouldn’t cut services in order to do so.
Sunny Ho, echoed Lee’s thoughts.
“I want less tax. I will make sure even a penny is not waste. I will fight for less property tax, of course, better business and more job,” said Ho, who recently donated $20,000 to the Richmond Hospital Foundation via his business, Kam Do Bakery.
Ho and Lee believe bringing higher paying jobs to the city can be a mechanism to help solve housing affordability problems in the city.
Kenneth Ho (no relation to Sunny) said he wants to introduce “character training” for students, that will preach responsibility, dependency and hospitality among many other traits.
“Our school system has done a good job on the academic side. But we don’t need to sacrifice character training,” said Ho.
Ho said his two adult children graduated from Richmond Christian Secondary school, but chose to leave the public system on their own volition.
He also spoke to promoting environmental clubs and projects in the school district.
Ho also said he wants to strengthen parent advisory committees and promote more communication between PAC’s and teachers.
