Former NDP MLA and ex-Saanich councillor David Cubberley announced Tuesday that he will be running for mayor of Saanich this November.

Elected MLA for Saanich South in 2005, Cubberley retired from provincial politics in 2009. He was voted onto Saanich council four times between 1990 and 2002.

"I missed municipal government the whole time I was sitting as an MLA because when youB次元官网网址檙e elected to local government you are part of government,B次元官网网址� Cubberley said. B次元官网网址淒ay to day you see changes that are a result of choices that youB次元官网网址檙e making, and youB次元官网网址檙e connected with people who give you feedback on that.B次元官网网址�

Frank Leonard, mayor of Saanich since 1996, was first voted onto council 25 years ago. During the last municipal election in 2008, political newcomer Harald Wolf challenged Leonard and lost by 4,972 votes.

Leonard declined to comment on CubberleyB次元官网网址檚 mayoral bid.

B次元官网网址淐ome fall it will be a political time and thatB次元官网网址檒l be the time for my performance review,B次元官网网址� Leonard said.

Cubberley noted itB次元官网网址檚 been a long time since Leonard was challenged by an experienced candidate.

B次元官网网址淚 see that the community is missing opportunities,B次元官网网址� Cubberley said, criticizing the Uptown for its lack of walking, cycling and transit planning. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to see us miss other opportunities of that kind.B次元官网网址�

He also questioned LeonardB次元官网网址檚 interest in securing funding from senior levels of government, including gas tax dollars.

B次元官网网址淚t took lobbying to get that money,B次元官网网址� Cubberley said. B次元官网网址�(Leonard) didnB次元官网网址檛 participate actively in getting it. ItB次元官网网址檒l take lobbying to keep it and that concerns me because you simply canB次元官网网址檛 go to residential property tax for all of the needs that we have.B次元官网网址�