The runner-up in London's 2014 mayoral race is once again going after the city's top job.
Standing on the steps of city hall, Paul Cheng announced on Friday his intention to run for mayor of London in the 2018 municipal election.
"To visitors of London, folks who are contemplating moving to London to start a family, business, a career; rest assured that Paul Cheng will continue to build our city on the framework of prosperity, stable employment, safety, and decent accommodations for all," said Cheng.
The retired oil and gas consultant, who has never held elected office, finished behind Matt Brown in the 2014 election with 34.3% of the vote. Brown won with 57.7%.
In recent weeks, Cheng has become vocal about the city's $560-million bus rapid transit (BRT) plan. He believes before the city can move forward with public transit improvements it must first built an underpass at Adelaide St. at Central Ave.
"Unless you deal with that problem, all this plan of the tunnel, the alternative routes means nothing," said Cheng. "I'm not against BRT. I'm not against a better transport system. We need a better transport system, we do. Our city, the roads, the infrastructure, the buses can be better."
Cheng also clarified remarks about London being "a village" that he made during a public meeting on BRT last week at Budweiser Gardens. He said what he meant was that London has a "village mentality."
"I should have elaborated further," said Cheng. "We have not changed in the last 30 years. We've fallen behind other cities. We've stayed steady, but the other cities are catching up so fast. We're in danger of losing our standard of living for the next generation. This is why I'm running."
Cheng announced no specifics on how he plans to deliver on his promise of more jobs and housing other than to point to his past business experience.
"You've got to get a guy who's been there, done that, international experience coming back to London to say I want to do something for my city. Someone with real world experience," he said. "We've had academia, we've had insiders for 20 or 30 years now and what have they done for London? My humble opinion, not much. So it's time to put someone with real world experience in."
Official nomination papers for the October 2018 election cannot be filed until May 1, 2018.
Mayor Matt Brown has already stated he plans to run for a second term.