As part of a team of veteran stunt performers, technicians and riggers in the reality series Stuntdawgs, Gary Paller plotted falls off skyscrapers, full body burns and crash-em-up car rolls.
He’s the kind of guy who likes to take on a challenge, whether it’s driving a car off a cliff or taking over the reins at city hall.
“Sitting around a table with 50 people while making a movie is a lot like being on city council, only with a lot more at stake,” said Paller, who will be vying for the mayor’s seat in Pitt Meadows come November.
“If you make a mistake in the movies, it’s very costly.”
Paller, who has co-ordinated special effects in the film and television industry since the early eighties, doesn’t see his lack of political experience as a drawback. In fact, he proudly says he’s an average guy, an ordinary citizen who just has a knack for getting things done.
“I’ve always been on time, on budget and my stuff works,” said Paller, who has already begun his election campaign, printed business cards and decorated a 1934 Ford pickup with blue, white and red signs that read: “Gary Paller for Mayor”.
Paller, who has lived in Pitt Meadows for 13 years, decided to seek the mayor’s seat after hearing from other residents who were concerned about rising taxes and the city’s growing debt.
“In the 13 years I’ve lived in Pitt Meadows, my taxes have more than doubled,” he said.
“We are getting tired of dipping into our pockets. We are in tough times now, we don’t need to be wasting our money. We need to pick our projects. I can get the people at city hall and councillors to all get on the same page, so we are all moving in a positive direction.”
Now retired, Paller assures voters he will be a full-time mayor, who will be open, accountable, responsible and optimistic.
“If you’ve got a problem, I want to hear about it,” Paller said.
“Good can come out of anything that you do, if you have a positive attitude.”
Paller joins two other declared candidates for mayor - current city councillors Deb Walters and John Becker.
Nominations close on Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. The election will be held on Nov. 19.