De Genova announces run for Vancouver mayor's seat

Veteran Vancouver parks board commissioner Allan De Genova says he will seek the Vision Vancouver party's nomination for mayor of Vancouver in the November 2008 civic election.

De Genova says public safety will be one of his key messages, but he'll also focus on morale problemswithin city operations, following last summer's protractedcivic strike.

"Vancouver City Hall should be one of the top companies to work for in the country. Right now, it's very low, and I want to see that turned around," De Genova told CBC News Tuesday morning.

The announcement means De Genovaisthe first declared candidate tochallenge Sullivan for the mayor's chair in November.

The veteran commissioner has been a member of the Vancouver NPA for 18 years, and has been on the park board for the past 13 years.

De Genova was kicked out of the NPA caucus by Mayor Sam Sullivan back in May 2006 when he argued that a fellow NPA commissioner should not vote on the planned expansion of the Vancouver Aquarium because of a conflict of interest.

Hetold CBC News on Tuesday morning there have been a lot ofprojects launched by the city over the past two years that haven't amounted to much, and voters want to see action.

COPE Coun. David Cadman has also indicated he may run for mayor. Cadman has been pushing for Vision and COPE to run a joint candidate and a joint slate in the upcoming election.

Coun. Raymond Louie and NDP MLA Gregor Robertson have both expressed interest in the job, but neither has officially put their name forward.

B.C.'s Finance Minister Carole Taylor ruled out running for the mayor's seat after much speculation she might be interested.

While De Genova may not have the political profile of some of his possible rivals for thenomination, he told CBC News he's not worried.

"I think the citizens of Vancouver know that over the last 15 years I worked very hard for them, and if they feel I'm the right person, then that will show on nomination night."

De Genova said he is launching his campaign is early to complete with Sullivan, who launched his own campaign two weeks ago.