Saanich Coun. Dean Murdock has announced he will not seek a fourth term this October.
Murdock took two tries at Saanich council before being elected in 2008. He was re-elected in 2011 and 2014, increasing his vote total each time and topping the polls in the last election.
His departure means there will be at least two vacancies on Saanich council this fall as first- term Coun. Fred Haynes has announced his intention to challenge Mayor Richard Atwell.
Murdock said he’s retiring primarily for family reasons.
“As I talked about running for another term with family and friends, the decision ultimately came down to one question: If I wasn’t already in the role, would I decide to run for council now? The answer was a resounding no, for a number of reasons,” he said in a statement.
“I have two wonderful children who will turn nine and six this year. I’ve been a councillor their entire lives, and I’ve missed a lot of bedtimes and family dinners to attend meetings and community events.”
Murdock also cited his job managing the Healthy Communities portfolio for the Ministry of Health, which he said cares deeply about and loves.
Murdock, who came to Saanich council with strong environmental credentials as Sierra Club Victoria Group co-chair, said he was proud to be part of a number of initiatives over his years on council including:
• A new active transportation strategy to give people on foot, bikes and boards safer traveling options.
• A food security plan to enhance local food production.
• Permitting secondary suites, and now a move to permit backyard suites.
• Beginning the work of reconciliation — forging government-to-government relationships with Indigenous communities.
In an interview, Murdock said like most municipalities in the country, housing and affordability is probably the biggest issue ahead.
“It will be increasingly difficult for communities everywhere but especially for developed communities like Saanich, to reconcile housing affordability; the demand for housing and settling new residents into established areas.”
“I think people are going to want to continue to settle here and the challenge is going to be accommodating that growth in a way that is not overly disruptive to existing residents.”
