Coquitlam mayor Richard Stewart will not seek re-election after 18 years | Daily Hive

Craig Hodge (left) and Richard Stewart (right). (Craig Hodge/submitted)

Richard Stewart will not seek re-election as mayor of Coquitlam, concluding his tenure after five terms in office.

He was first elected as the city’s mayor in 2008, after previously serving as a city councillor from 2005 to 2008 and as the MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville from 2001 to 2005.

By the time he leaves office after the October 2026 civic election, he will have served almost 18 years as mayor.

You might also like:

Stewart first officially announced his decision not to run in the upcoming civic election on Wednesday evening, during an event where he also endorsed city councillor Craig Hodge, who has confirmed his candidacy for mayor.

“I’m happy to be here tonight because I truly believe in Craig, and over the 14 years we’ve worked together, I’ve been honoured to have him as a colleague,” said Stewart.

“He has done an amazing job for our community for decades, and I’m happy [to] hand over the reins to my friend Craig Hodge! I thank him for stepping forward for our community, and I look forward to seeing the great things he will accomplish for our city.”

Similarly, last month, Malcolm Brodie announced he would not seek re-election as the mayor of Richmond after 25 years.

Stewart won in a landslide in 2014, 2018, and 2022, attaining over 68 per cent of the vote in each of these three elections. As for Hodge, he won the most votes of any city councillor candidate in the same elections as well. Hodge was first elected in 2011.

“In announcing my intention to run for mayor, I want to continue the good work of this council to deliver new facilities, maintain services, manage costs and maintain our residents’ quality of life as our city grows,” said Hodge.

“We are facing uncertain global economic times, the down loading of additional responsibilities to local government and the pressures of unprecedented regional growth but with strong experienced leadership, I believe Coquitlam has a promising future for tomorrow as well as for generations to come.”

Craig Hodge/Submitted

As he seeks to become Coquitlam’s next mayor, Hodge has pledged to address housing affordability, support diverse housing options, and collaborate with partners to provide housing for vulnerable residents.

According to a release, Hodge has been a strong advocate for preserving Coquitlam’s heritage and enhancing community amenities. As a former chair of the Coquitlam Heritage Society, he played a key role in creating the City Archives, protecting Riverview Hospital artifacts, acquiring the Booth Farmhouse, and safeguarding dozens of historic homes.

In his role as chair of the Coquitlam Sports Advisory Committee, Hodge championed the construction of the Poirier Forum — the city’s first year-round indoor multi-use facility — as well as park revitalization projects and the development of a new eight-court pickleball complex at Bramble Park.

A dedicated advocate for public safety, he has chaired and co-chaired numerous provincial and local committees, including the UBCM Community Safety Committee and the RCMP Contract Management Committee. He has also been a leader in environmental initiatives, serving as chair of the National Zero Waste Council and promoting electric vehicle adoption and sustainable development practices.

You might also like: