Residents in Victoria and Saanich woke up to new mayors today after the incumbents were tossed out in Saturday’s civic elections.
Frank Leonard, Saanich mayor for 18 years, was defeated by sewage-treatment activist Richard Atwell.
And in Victoria, first-term councillor Lisa Helps eked out a win over Mayor Dean Fortin by an 89-vote margin.
Atwell, running on the theme “it’s time for a change,” hammered away at Leonard’s attendance record at the Capital Regional District sewage committee meetings throughout the campaign, saying Leonard had missed 102 meetings. Leonard maintained he sent his alternate to avoid a conflict.
Atwell said Leonard has had a stronghold in Saanich. “He hasn’t had to work collaboratively with others as much as I think he could have.”
Fortin, mayor for the past six years, found himself on the defensive throughout the campaign over the Johnson Street Bridge replacement project, while Helps, who voted against the bridge project, largely escaped that criticism.
Fortin and Leonard said they left their respective municipalities in good condition.
“I believe I am leaving the municipality in great shape. I hope the new team will continue to make it better,” Leonard said.
Fortin said he had mixed emotions. “Obviously, this was close and we had great plans on moving forward with things that were really important. But ultimately, the people have spoken and it remains a strong progressive town with affordable housing as the No. 1 priority,” he said.
Helps said her first priorities are to build a strong relationship with council and senior staff and get a strategic plan in place for the next four years — along with sewage and the Johnson Street Bridge. “If we’ve got strong relationships and a clear plan for the next four years, we’ve got everything we need to get going.”
Helps has booked a meeting with city manager Jason Johnson for 8 a.m. Monday. “We’ve got to get moving right away. It’s not my style to take too much time off.”
With questions on amalgamation on eight municipal ballots and sewage treatment a top-of-mind issue, Greater Victoria area saw a resurgence in voter turnout. In Saanich, it was 35 per cent compared with 25 per cent in 2011. Victoria was at 39 per cent, up from 26 per cent.
The night was a triumph for the Amalgamation Yes grassroots organization. Amalgamation referendums passed in seven of the eight municipalities in which some sort of question was asked, with Oak Bay the lone holdout.
In Oak Bay, Mayor Nils Jensen was returned to office while Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins romped to victory over former Victoria deputy police chief John Ducker.
“What people want is some continuity. They’ve been through that huge battle with the sewage treatment,” Desjardins said. The issue isn’t over yet, she added.
With many incumbent mayors stepping down, there will be new mayors in Sooke, Sidney, Central Saanich, View Royal and Highlands.
In Sooke, where two incumbent councillors — Herb Haldane and Maja Tait — faced off for the top job, Tait won by a margin of more than two to one.
In Langford, Mayor Stew Young and the six incumbent councillors were challenged by a slate calling itself Neighbours of Langford. But Young and his entire council were returned to office. David Shebib, who ran for mayor in all 13 municipalities, scored his highest vote tally — a total of 556 — against Young.
In Colwood, where municipal officials have led the revolt against regionalized sewage treatment in favour of a made-in-Colwood solution, voters returned Mayor Carol Hamilton for a second term.
In Highlands and View Royal, veteran councillors will take over the top elected job. Ken Williams was elected Highlands mayor, while in View Royal, Coun. David Screech easily defeated Brian Burchill. “I’m thrilled,” Screech said. “My biggest feeling right now is relief that it’s all over and I’ve been successful. I feel honoured and grateful that the voters of View Royal have placed their faith in me.”
Central Saanich voters elected Coun. Ryan Windsor, 34, a vineyard manager, as mayor, denying farmer Jack Mar a chance to return to office. Mar sat as a councillor from 1988-93 and 1999-2002 and as mayor from 2005 to 2011 before retiring. Also in Central Saanich, 21-year-old Niall Paltiel topped the polls in his first stab at municipal office.
In North Saanich, where a divided council squabbled over development issues in the past three years, Mayor Alice Finall prevailed over former councillor Dorothy Hartshorne.
A second time wasn’t in the cards for Don Amos, who served as Sidney’s mayor from 1996 to 2008. Voters chose Coun. Steve Price instead.
