A political commentator is joining the race for Saanich council. Mike Geoghegan, who works as a lobbying and media-relations consultant, will vie in a Sept. 23 byelection for the seat vacated by Vic Derman.
Nathalie Chambers, Karen Harper, Shawn Newby and Rebecca Mersereau are also competing to replace Derman, who died March 17.
Geoghegan said he’s motivated to run by three things: the need to build more housing; a desire to reduce municipal taxes; and the need for greater transparency in government.
“We’re turning this region into a playground for the well-off and average folks are no longer able to live, work and play here,” he said.
Geoghegan’s previous government experience includes five years as a ministerial assistant in the Harcourt government. He spent seven years on Langford’s planning and zoning committee.
Although he supported Richard Atwell’s successful 2014 campaign for mayor, he said he considers himself independent. “Some of the incumbent council is getting pretty long in the tooth and it’s time for fresh faces,” he said.
