View Royal voters head to the polls Nov. 18 in a byelection to replace Heidi Rast as councillor.
Rast, who topped the polls in 2011 and 2014, moved to Prince Edward Island to take a job with a biopharmaceutical company.
Her seat on View Royal’s council is being sought by six people, with the winner to serve until October 2018, when B.C.’s next municipal elections will be held. Mark Brennan, Nathan Daisley, Adam Flint, Angela Hanes, Damian Kowalewich and Jodi Zwicker are vying for the post.
An all-candidates meeting was held Nov. 6, and a meet-and-greet event for the council hopefuls is set for Monday, Nov. 13, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at View Royal Community Hall, 279 Island Highway. The View Royal Community Association is organizing the gathering.
Voter turnout is one of the issues being discussed in the lead-up to the byelection, especially because a September byelection in Saanich brought out only 11.4 per cent of registered voters.
View Royal Mayor David Screech said he hopes View Royal voters outdo those in both Saanich and Vancouver — where an October byelection brought out just under 11 per cent of voters — on election day.
“I hope that with a smaller community we’ll have a higher turnout,” he said. “My argument is that smaller communities are more engaged.”
Screech said he is impressed with the range of people running in the community of about 10,800.
“I think it’s great that we’ve got six very good candidates,” he said. “It’s exciting to see that many come forward, as well. It shows that there’s a real interest there in View Royal and in the local government of View Royal.”
It is important to get the council back to full strength at five members, Screech said.
“Being a smaller council, each and every member is very important,” he said. “In my opinion, it’s important that we make sure that we collectively choose what everyone considers to be the best candidate.”
Screech said the voters have several concerns, but there are no “burning localized issues” that are getting all the attention.
“I think certainly transportation and transit issues are big.”
He said transportation issues range from the future of the E&N Rail corridor to commuters’ use of neighbourhood streets instead of main arterials.
“I think a lot of View Royal residents are impacted by commuters.”
Another topic of discussion is what happens when the Choices transitional homeless shelter, located in View Royal at the former youth jail, closes down, he said.
“Choices is still running until the end of December,” Screech said. “There’s the whole concern over what B.C. Housing will do with the site long term.”
The first round of advance polling for the byelection took place Nov. 8, with a second session scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at View Royal Town Hall, 45 View Royal Ave.
Regular voting on Nov. 18 happens from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at View Royal Elementary School, 218 Helmcken Rd.
Mark Brennan
Age: 59
Lived in View Royal: Close to 15 years
Occupation: Retired municipal administrator
Why I believe I’m the best choice for View Royal: I believe I am the best candidate for this position because of the experience that I can bring to bear immediately. Having been chief administrative officer for View Royal for almost eight years, I know the council and issues intimately. I can “hit the ground running” and have an impact on the 2018 budget and other crucial matters before the next general election (next fall). Any other councillor would be ineffective, not having knowledge of how budgets and other municipal processes work. The learning curve is steep for new councillors. Vote with your head, not your heart. I am driven by passion, but I have the practical know-how to actually get results.
Nathan Daisley
Age: 21
Lived in View Royal: I was born at Victoria General Hospital and have lived in View Royal for 20 years.
Occupation: I previously worked at SilverCity for five and a half years and have done contract work for the Youth Excellence Society, Students Offering Support, and for federal and provincial campaigns.
Why I believe I’m the best choice for View Royal:
It is my dream to be a public servant. I was born and raised here in View Royal, and there is nothing I want more than to serve my community. My mother started to bring me volunteering for Child Find B.C. at two years old, and that’s what has inspired me to community service. I am advocating for policies that will help View Royal continue to grow while maintaining what we love about our town. I will advocate for the following: amending the official community plan to protect affordable housing and promote co-operative housing and mixed-use development; arranging partnerships for a solar program to build View Royal a competitive advantage in our commercial sector; and designing infrastructure that makes public transportation the best alternative to relying solely on personal transportation. I’m running for town council because View Royal has what it takes to be the best municipality in the CRD.
Adam Flint
Age: 39
Lived in View Royal: Three and a half years, although my family has lived here for 25 years.
Occupation: Graphic technician in the planning department with the District of Saanich
Why I believe I’m the best choice for View Royal:
I believe that View Royal is a beautiful natural gem in the region. My family and I chose to live here for the natural beauty, schools and sense of community that View Royal has over any other municipality in the region. I am running for council as I would like to be involved in the continued shaping and stewardship of our home. I hope to make use of my extensive municipal experience to work with the community, developers and staff to ensure progressive and innovative development with a focus on affordability and our existing community.
I believe in open communication, enhanced public engagement on municipal projects and future planning. We need community input to act in people’s best interests. I will ensure that their views are heard and valued.
Angela Hanes
Age: 47
Lived in View Royal: 10 years
Occupation: Group benefits adviser
Why I believe I’m the best choice for View Royal: Being an Island resident for 20 years, I fell in love with View Royal when I purchased my first house here 10 years ago. I believe strongly in the importance of establishing honest and open connections with the people. As a volunteer at Choices [transitional shelter], I saw first-hand how difficult it can be to balance the concerns of all stakeholders, but continue to believe that with open communication, solutions will be less about “winners and losers,” and more about respecting one another’s viewpoint. I am committed to hearing from all residents and will continue to work hard in ensuring that when it comes to causes, issues or policies that affect our community, everyone’s voice is heard.
Damian Kowalewich
Age: 36
Lived in View Royal: 10 years
Occupation: Police officer
Why I believe I’m the best choice for View Royal: I am proud to be raising a young family in View Royal. This community is special and residents care deeply about the future of the town. Some ideas to enhance the quality of life in View Royal would include increased communication between council and residents, addressing traffic concerns, balancing the rights of property owners and developers, and bolstering the sense of community. I bring a combination of professional, educational and board experience that makes me confident that I can shoulder the responsibility of making important decisions for our town. I am ethical, trustworthy and have a proven record of balancing budgets, creating strategic plans and being someone that people rely on. If elected, I would proudly serve all residents and promise to genuinely listen to all concerns and suggestions. Please visit damiank.ca.
Jodi Zwicker
Age: 49
Lived in View Royal: Two and a half years
Occupation: Licensed Realtor
Why I believe I’m the best choice for View Royal: Having now had an opportunity to hear the positions on many issues from the other candidates, I am confident that I have the ability to represent the citizens of View Royal with the professional approach they deserve. Municipal politics is vital in its ability to work with other agencies, government and direct contact with residents on a regular basis. My approach is one of accountability and professionalism, and I will do my homework to make sure my time involved with both the public and private sector is well received on behalf of the town. I take this responsibility very seriously and I will work diligently to earn the trust of all the residents. My website, jodizwicker.com, has more in-depth details about my platform.
