Article content continued

Over the past 30 years the only election that has come close to this year’s in terms of the number of Metro mayors leaving is 1987, when there were six mayoral seats up for grabs in Langley Township, Surrey, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Delta and Lions Bay. A seventh seat was also available in Anmore, which held its first municipal election that year. Five mayors decided not to run in 1993 and 2011.

“When there’s a lot of turnover there’s a lot of opportunity and a lot of risk,” said Moscrop.

It’s a chance for people to vote for a change in their community and the region, but a risk is that with so many new people it’s impossible to tell how they will work together. There will be a period of adjustment.

Moscrop cautioned against leaping to conclusions about why so many mayors are leaving at the same time — it could be coincidental.

Most mayors have cited personal reasons, saying they have served for a long time, want to spend time with their families or pursue other interests. Longer terms — terms were extended from three to four years for the last election — and stricter rules on campaign financing that came into effect last fall have also contributed to the exodus.

Another possibility, according to Moscrop, is that “it could be incumbents are sensing a lot of frustration and are recognizing now’s a good time to get out.”

In addition to mayors opting not to run again, some previously safe mayoral seats may be at risk, Moscrop said, using the race that’s heating up in Burnaby between longtime Mayor Derek Corrigan and independent challenger Mike Hurley as an example.