Municipal Election Watch – West Shore of Vancouver Island, BC
Two mayoralty candidates throw their hats into the ring
As published in the May 4, 2018 issue of West Shore Voice News
Friday, May 4 ~ WEST SHORE. As election campaigns start to roll out in municipalities throughout BC toward the October 20 election, so far there are two west shore municipalities in which contenders are vying for the mayor’s job against existing incumbents.
A few weeks ago first-term City of Colwood councillor Rob Martin threw his hat into the race for mayor of Colwood where he is now challenging the Official Community Plan (OCP) timeline/process. Two-term Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton has said she is running again.
This week, two-term Sooke Councillor Kevin Pearson announced his intention to run for mayor, pitching him into a race so far against incumbent District of Sooke Mayor Maja Tait (two-term councillor, one-term mayor) who has said she intends to run again. Pearson states ‘leadership’ as his campaign theme.
In the Town of View Royal, last week Mayor David Screech said he’s running again, and that all of his present council is probably running again this fall in the municipality that deals with issues often related to being centrally-positioned in the Greater Victoria area (e.g. transportation, housing).
In the District of Metchosin, long-time Mayor John Ranns said a few weeks ago that it’s tough to find candidates for a four-year commitment (the term of office was changed in BC from three years to four, as of the 2014 election cycle). He plans to run again in the small rural municipality where no-growth is a goal.
In Langford, most if not all of the current council is expected to run again. Last month long-time Mayor Stew Young and councillors celebrated their 25 years serving in that municipality since incorporation in 1992.
Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Director Mike Hicks is running again. This week he sent a letter to Honourable Selina Robinson Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding the disparity between election campaign spending limits for candidates in BC who are running for regional director ($5,000) compared to that of candidates running for municipal mayor ($10,000).
School district trustee elections are also held alongside the municipal election process. In Sooke School District 62 (SD62) the board of seven trustees is comprised from two areas of the district — three from the Milne’s Landing Zone (schools in the Sooke area), and four from the Belmont Zone (schools in the Langford and Colwood areas).
Candidates may file their nomination papers with Elections BC during September 4 to 14. The campaign period is September 22 to October 20. General voting day is Saturday October 20.
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