I have lived in Richmond Hill since 1992, raised my family here and spent much of my life as a filmmaker in this community. Municipal government is the level of government we encounter most directly in our daily lives. In my experience, Mayor West approaches that responsibility first and foremost as a dedicated public servant who takes genuine pride in the work he does.

I have had the opportunity to work closely with him on community projects in Richmond Hill.

It was Mayor West who approached me and the families of the victims of Flight PS752 and offered to collaborate on developing a community project to commemorate those we had lost. I sensed that his initiative came from compassion and empathy, but also from a genuine instinct to act when something matters. 

Over the years, I have had the pleasure and honor of working with him and his office on this project and on various community events. Those close interactions have given me insight into the qualities that make him an effective mayor for our city. David West is approachable, attentive, intellectually curious and focused on getting things done.

I have never felt that I was dealing with a typical politician. I find him to be a neighbor who cares about the community and has taken responsibility for serving it. These are, in my view, qualities every politician should have.

Working with Mayor West and his team has also given me a close view of his leadership. He listens to his constituents and his staff, respects different perspectives and treats disagreement as part of solving a problem rather than as an obstacle. He understands that bureaucracy should be a means of doing things properly, not a reason for preventing things from getting done.

I consider David West a decent human being, a good neighbor and someone deeply committed to the community he serves.

Babak Payami
Richmond Hill Resident