On Tom Tao's first day at the University of California Berkeley, he caught a speech by Mario Savio, leader of the Free Speech Movement, he says.
The Burnaby mayoral candidate also says he was at People's Park in May 1972 when protesters tore down the fence in response to President Richard Nixon's announcement that he was going to put mines in North Vietnam's main port.
"I saw how politics corrupt people," he says of that time, adding he is running as mayor to ensure politicians, including himself, are held accountable for their actions.
"The buck stops here," Tao says. "Whatever happens, I will face it, I will deal with it."
deal with it." Tao has run as an independent candidate in the past but this time he is running with TEAM Burnaby.
Tao first ran as an independent for council in 2002, as an independent mayoral candidate in the 2005 election, and again as an independent candidate for council in 2008.
He also ran as an independent candidate in the Burnaby-Willingdon riding in the 2005 provincial election.
This is Tao's first time running with a party.
"I am proud TEAM Burnaby chose me," he says, adding he feels the party candidates will better fill the role of councillors and have a better vision for the city.
Tao was born in China and went to school in Taiwan.
He has lived with his family in Burnaby for since 1998 and first got involved in politics after a break-in at his apartment building in the Metrotown area.
But instead of running on a criminal justice platform this time, he is focusing on transparency and accountability in government.
"The system only works if we have checks and balances," Tao says.
If he is voted in he will hold frequent public meetings, at least one every six months, he says, to ensure the people of Burnaby are heard.
Tao is also focusing on a more global role for the city and feels he is uniquely qualified to connect with businesses and towns in Asia.
Burnaby is an Asian-Pacific city, Tao points out, and can gain economically by paying attention to Asia.
"Here's an advantage I bring to the able," he says. Tao introduced Burnaby o the Asia Pacific Cities Summit when he was a mayoral candidate in 2005, he says.
Though he is now retired, Tao worked in international relations in Taiwan for 20 years before moving to Burnaby.
During his hour-long interview with the NOW, Tao took out an album filled with photographs of the many people he has connected with throughout the world, from Indian prime ministers to famous American basketball players.
He hopes to use his international knowledge and connections to help the city economically, he says.
Tao's biggest hope, however, is that Burnaby residents will get involved in civic politics and vote in higher numbers this year.
He was very upset to see voter turnout in Burnaby's last election was so low - just above 15 per cent - and hopes everyone, including the Chinese population, will make an effort to participate this year.
"Go to vote," he says, adding voters should also learn about the candidates. "Understand the system, who can represent you, so you can vote wisely."
Tao acknowledges TEAM did terribly in the last election, which he calls "a slaughterhouse," but says now voters need a more diverse council, to ensure there is oversight, with more than one party represented.
The TEAM Burnaby council candidates are former Burnaby councillors Garth Evans and Lee Rankin, retired RCMP officer Ray Power, local real estate agent Jeffrey Chiu, businessman Jim Favaro, real estate agent Lotus Chung, community and sports volunteer June Jeffries and urban planner Graham Murchie.
Murchie has stepped down as TEAM Burnaby president to run for council.
TEAM Burnaby's school trustee hopefuls are Bonda Bitzer, Alex Hui, Jeff Kuah, Rennie Maierle, Glen Power, Pablo Su and Anne Sharleen Sylva.
The civic election is Nov. 19.
