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Anderson runs for council after narrow 2011 defeat

Longtime resident will focus on a four-point platform
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Steve Anderson Running a positive, four-point campaign. Photo submitted

In Steve Anderson's first foray into municipal politics in 2011, he missed out on a seat at the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) council table by just four votes.

"It was both discouraging and encouraging, because there was a lot of high-horsepower candidates that stepped forward at the last minute," he said, in a conversation at his Alta Vista home.

But following that narrow defeat, Anderson was met with a great deal of support from people in the community, and in the lead-up to this year's election it seemed he couldn't escape the question — would he run again?

"There wasn't a day that went by that people weren't bugging me to do it again," he said with a laugh. "So I said I would."

So with a website now set up in his name — www.andersonsteve.ca — the long-time Whistler resident is taking another shot at municipal politics.

"I learned a few things after the last time around, and one would be to just stay on point," he said.

Anderson has boiled his platform down to four main points — retaining provincial RMI funding and enhancing infrastructure, improving transit and the Valley Trail, continued cooperation with Whistler Blackcomb and maintaining the momentum built up by the current council.

His platform can be viewed in full on his website.

"I just picked four things and that's what I'm going to go on," he said.

"We're not going to get negative on anybody, we're not going to be lighting our hair on fire and running around the room. Let's stick to basics here and keep it going."

Anderson considers himself a private person, having spent more than four decades in Whistler flying under the radar.

"I've lived here 40 years and a lot of people don't know who I am, because I kind of lay low, do my work and don't make a lot of noise," he said.

Anderson was a member of the most recent Official Community Plan (OCP) Community Advisory Group, and has volunteered his time to the BC Bike Race and the annual Great Lakes Cleanup.

He founded his first outdoor tourism business in 1980, and has been active in the industry ever since. He's also worked as a mountain heli-skiing guide since 1991.

But years of living the adventure lifestyle have taken their toll physically, Anderson said, and the time has come for him to explore other avenues.

"I have to come to the realization with myself that heli-ski guiding isn't something you do much into your 60s," he said. "We're going to be doing something different here, so maybe this is it?"

And since coming oh-so-close in 2011, Anderson has made a point of putting in the effort to stay up-to-date with the comings and goings of council.

"I did a few different things over the last three years... I was always going to council meetings, and the ones I couldn't see in person I would watch online," he said.

"I'll have the time to do this, and I like to think I have the background on it."