With local government elections five months away, those with ambitions to run for trustee of School District No. 46 (SD46) will have ample opportunity. Of the seven current trustees, four will not be seeking re-election, and one remains undecided.
Those stepping down are Christine Young-husband, Greg Russell, Dave Mewhort and Betty Baxter. Chair Lori Pratt, who will be running for Sunshine Coast Regional District director for Halfmoon Bay, said she remains undecided about whether she will run for trustee as well, but is “leaning more towards no.” Longtime trustee Lori Dixon did not confirm before Coast Reporter’s deadline.
Younghusband made her announcement on Twitter June 7, where she wrote, “I will not be running in the 2018 municipal election as school trustee, councillor, or mayor (lol). It’s been an amazing 7 years as school trustee.”
Following her announcement, Coast Reporter asked other trustees to confirm their intent to run.
Mewhort, representing the District of Sechelt on the school board, was first elected in 1985 and has served seven terms as trustee but chose not to seek re-election this year. “What I’d really like to see is some new blood with fresh ideas on the board,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute. What a great school district. I’ll miss it.”
Another longtime trustee, Russell, Area 2, has also decided not to run, stating, “It is time for me to move on.” He was first elected in 2002 and has served five terms as trustee. “I feel honoured and privileged to have represented the interests of our children and to have supported our public education system for all that time.”
Baxter, Area 2, said she will not be running again because of the “tougher commitment” of a four-year term. She was first elected in 2011 and served as chair of the board prior to Pratt, who took over the role in 2017. “I’ve now achieved what I set out to do four years ago and finally I am still recovering from major surgery this past winter so need to take a break for some personal recovery.”
Meanwhile, vice chair Pammila Ruth, representing the Town of Gibsons, said she intends to run again. “I have enjoyed my first term immeasurably and have grown in both knowledge and responsibilities as each year progressed.”
General local government elections will be taking place Saturday, Oct. 20. SD46 electoral areas have also been redrawn this year to include shíshálh Nation lands that had been excluded by the previous boundaries.
