Jonathan Cote’s pedometer counts more than 200,000 strides that he has taken so far in his campaign to become the next mayor of New Westminster.

“I’ve already been to a lot of doors throughout the city, and I’m certainly getting a lot of positive feedback from residents,” the 35-year-old councillor told the Straight by phone on September 9.

His goal is to take a million steps toward victory, but Cote’s bigger hurdle is to defeat incumbent mayor Wayne Wright.

Although Wright has not officially announced that he wants a fifth term, he confirmed his plan with a friend who also happens to be one of Cote’s declared supporters: Coun. Lorrie Williams.

“He told me himself,” Williams told the Straight by phone about the conversation she had with the mayor last Monday (September 8) on the sidelines of a council meeting.

Thus, her worry about being placed in an awkward situation was justified. Last month, Williams related that although she’s backing Cote, she admires Wright for the “big, beautiful things” he has done for the city.

“These are two good men, and you know what? If they both run, one of them will not be on council next year. And that upsets me,” Williams told the Straight in a phone interview in August.

Cote added: “I have a lot of respect for the mayor, and we’ve had a good working relationship over the nine years that I’ve been on council. I think the current mayor has served his time, and I wouldn’t be running at this time if I didn’t think the time is right for some new energy in the mayor’s office.”

Wright didn’t respond to an interview request before deadline.