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A retired West Vancouver police officer is the latest entrant into an already crowded race to be the 40th mayor of Vancouver.

Fred Harding, who retired last year as a corporal after an 18-year career with the West Vancouver Police Department, formally announced this month his plans to run for mayor of Vancouver in this October’s municipal election, under the banner of a party called Vancouver First.

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Vancouver First, which is running a full slate this year alongside Harding with candidates for council, school board and park board, is one of several newer parties seeking to elect candidates for the first time this year.

“This isn’t about putting our toe in the water,” Harding said Monday. “We are not doing this to come in third place or second. We are as serious as a heart attack, we are in this to win it.”

Vancouver’s civic politics have historically been dominated by a small number of established parties, and it’s been 30 years since an independent council or mayoral candidate was elected in the city. But in this year’s totally different electoral landscape, rookie organizations and independent candidates feel like they have a stronger chance at success than they would in previous elections.