Former Victoria deputy police chief John Ducker says a “leadership vacuum” in Esquimalt is causing economic growth to stagnate, which is why he’s throwing his name in the race for Esquimalt mayor.
Ducker announced Monday that he plans to challenge incumbent Barb Desjardins, who ran uncontested in the 2011 municipal election.
“I’ve been approached by so many people in the community who asked me to consider doing it that it was too much to ignore,” said Ducker, who has lived in Esquimalt since 1971. “I think we’re in a leadership vacuum here. I don’t think enough is happening to get Esquimalt moving.”
Ducker, 56, retired from Victoria police in August 2013 after 34 years in policing. He and wife Bridget have two daughters, Jayne and Megan.
Ducker said he would focus on rebuilding infrastructure, increasing density and removing red tape around development projects to make Esquimalt “a livable and viable township.”
He said he wants to see the Village Project move forward in order to attract people and businesses to the area. “[Esquimalt] is a bit of an unpolished diamond and I want to make it the crown jewel for this region,” he said.
While Ducker agrees with Desjardins’ decision to reject the sewage-treatment plant at McLoughlin Point, he didn’t have a clear position on how to proceed on that issue, saying he’s open to all possibilities — from a standalone plant in Esquimalt to a regional treatment plant elsewhere.
Ducker also supports putting a non-binding referendum question about amalgamation on the ballot. “I don’t fear the question or the answer because I think a leader should undertake to make sure our citizens are heard, even if it costs them their own job.”
Desjardins, seeking a third term as mayor, said she welcomes Ducker’s mayoral bid.
“It will be good for Esquimalt to have a mayoral contest,” said Desjardins, who has been mayor since 2008.
“My experience, I think, will speak for me.”
Desjardins said council has spent the last 18 months consulting the community to come up with an economic-development strategy. The Justice Institute of British Columbia has authorized their senior staff to explore options of locating a campus in the Esquimalt Village Project.
“This past term, it was a planning year, and 2014 is an implementation year. So going forward from here, there’s going to be significant progress.”
As deputy police chief, Ducker had a front-row seat for the years-long showdown between Victoria and Esquimalt councils over a shared police force. Esquimalt was unhappy about rising policing costs, and in 2011 made the controversial decision to ditch the Victoria Police Department in favour of a contract with the RCMP. That move was rejected by the province, which instead appointed a mediator to repair the broken relationship.
In April this year, Esquimalt and Victoria police signed a 10-year contract that saves Esquimalt $330,000 over three years and guarantees 25 officers specifically assigned to the community.
“I always agreed Esquimalt should get good value for money; I may have disagreed with the process [the township] used to get there,” Ducker said.
Esquimalt businessman Scott Attrill, who owns a barbershop on Admirals Road, is also running for mayor.
Municipal elections are being held on Nov. 15.
