There’s a bit of 2005 in the current race for mayor in the City of North Vancouver.

Back then, Barbara Sharp was one of the mayors who were tossed out in the Lower Mainland. In her case, it was then councillor Darrell Mussatto who took her job. She placed third, coming behind second-placer Rod Clark.

Mussatto had no challengers in 2008, and was acclaimed mayor. He dominated the 2011 election, garnering almost 74 percent of the vote against three opponents.

This year, one of Mussatto’s challengers is retired businessperson Kerry Morris.

Morris’s website features two endorsers of his candidacy, and one of them is Sharp.

According to Mussatto, he’s “surprised” that Sharp has come out to support Morris.

“Barb Sharp did a tremendous amount as mayor,” Mussatto told the Straight in a phone interview on October 3. “A lot of the growth that you’re seeing happening especially in the Lower Lonsdale, and I supported it, was during her tenure as mayor. She has a lot to be proud of.”

Mussatto recalled that there wasn’t anything really significant in terms of policy issues in the 2005 campaign.

“The policies that Barb was part of was progressive, was positive, and it was inclusive,” Mussatto said. “And I think that’s what I’ve carried on with.”

According to Mussatto, he and Sharp simply had different leadership styles: “Our policies were very similar.”

Although Mussatto declined to describe Sharp’s style, he depicted his as “positive”.

“It’s working with people in trying to find win-win solutions,” he said. “It’s not to find winners and losers.”

Sharp did not respond to an interview request made by the Straight last week.