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Bud Mercer has decided to seek a council seat in Chilliwack

The Chilliwack candidate has vast experience in policing and the private sector
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Bud Mercer, a former RCMP detachment commander of Chilliwack, has decided to run for a seat on city council. (Submitted)

A retired RCMP detachment commander for Chilliwack has decided to seek election next month as a city councillor.

Bud Mercer, with vast experience in both policing and the private sector, said he was approached by friends, family and even sitting elected officials who encouraged him to run for a seat on council.

“After much consideration it not only made sense to me but opened the door for another way to serve my home community,” said Mercer in a release about his candidacy.

READ MORE: Everything election related

Mercer and his wife, Shelly, have lived in Chilliwack since 1992 except for a short stint in Ottawa.

He served the community of Chilliwack in different capacities as an RCMP officer, first as a young dog handler, then a watch commander at the Detachment, the Officer-in-Charge of the Chilliwack Detachment, and then Commander of the Upper Fraser Valley area.

“During those years, I have come to know and appreciate this community. Chilliwack is my home!”

His professional history makes him an ideal candidate for providing strategic advice and political assistance to public safety institutions.

“A safe city with family-safe neighbourhoods is my greatest priority,” Mercer said. “I am a father of four with six grandchildren. As a family, we use city and neighbourhood parks and recreational facilities continually.”

As a growing city, amenities should grow accordingly.

“We are a more affordable city for young families, long-time residents and retirees alike. As we continue to grow it is critical that our green spaces, family safe parks and trails, and recreational facilities also continue to grow and expand,” Mercer underlined. “Opportunities for healthy and active lifestyles are vital to our community’s wellness, which I believe must also be a priority.”

He listed one goal of maintaining a competitive tax structure for both homeowners and businesses, “which combined with the attraction of the unparalleled beauty of Chilliwack and area, will ensure our city’s attractiveness and financial health for decades to come.”

READ MORE: Do your research before voting

Until his retirement in 2016, Mercer was CEO of Plenary Properties, an affiliate of Plenary Group Canada, the country’s leading Public Private Partnership developer, employing people across Canada and North America. Prior to that, Mercer served 34 plus years in the RCMP from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the far north and points between. In October 2007, then Assistant Commissioner Mercer assumed responsibilities as the Chief Operating Officer for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games Integrated Security Unit. In this role, Assistant Commissioner Mercer was responsible for all aspects of security planning for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in command of approximately 15,000 personnel and responsibility for a budget in excess of $550 million.

In 2009, Mercer received the Order of Merit from the Governor General of Canada in recognition of his 30+ years of service to the citizens of Canada and in 2011 the Meritorious Service Award from the Province of British Columbia in recognition of his leadership and professionalism in leading the planning and execution of security requirements for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games.


@CHWKjourno
jfeinberg@theprogress.com

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Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering the arts, city hall, as well as Indigenous, and climate change stories.
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