A well-known city councillor could soon announce he’s running for mayor in this year’s civic election.

Vancouver City Coun. Pete Fry is holding a launch party next Friday, and while he won’t officially confirm what he is launching, he said late last year that he was considering a mayoral run.

Political commentator and This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir says it’s shaping up to be an interesting election, with a flood of anti-Ken Sim candidates that are going to be vying with each other for the votes of mostly left-wing voters.

Amir says those candidates will still have to form strong responses to hot-button issues, including the biggest advantage held by Sims’ ABC party.

“It has completely monopolized this public Safety First lane, and I don’t think anyone else has really touched them on that lane, certainly when it comes to policing,” he said.

As well, Amir says these aren’t his only competitors, and we shouldn’t rule out Kareem Allam — Sim’s former chief of staff — or former ABC Coun. Rebecca Bligh.

“I think those two candidates have certainly branded themselves as more centrist, progressive candidates.”

Overall, Amir says, Fry has set himself up well as the “reply guy,” who responds and criticizes ABC policies and will benefit from his strong name recognition, he says.

— With files from Srushti Gangdev