Four hopefuls are seeking the mayor's seat in Sechelt this November.
Mayor Darren Inkster is seeking re-election to finish projects that he started, while candidates Ed Steeves, John Henderson and Douglas Smith want a chance to put their own plans for change into action.
"I think as a mayor when you run for a three-year term, there are always things left unfinished. Sometimes it takes mayors until the second or third term to complete the initiatives they've started," Inkster said.
He wants to see infrastructure projects like the "sewage treatment solution" completed as well as the Mission Point Park plan, the airport, construction of more pathway and trail connections and more waterfront and downtown revitalization and development.
Inkster has been mayor of Sechelt for the past three years, and he sat as a councillor in Sechelt for three terms before gaining the head chair, giving him 12 years of experience on Sechelt council. To find out more about Inkster, go to www.darreninkster.ca.
Steeves is also a familiar face in municipal government circles, having spent a total of 22 years on three municipal governments, including eight years as a councillor in the District of Sechelt.
He is also the owner and president of three successful companies, has a busy chiropractic practice and volunteers in local, national and international organizations.
Steeves wants to create a team that will operate Sechelt as a business and promote good growth and development. He is running on a platform of job creation, tourism promotion and improving the working relationship with staff.
"I am running for mayor because I am concerned with the happenings of the last few years, including the lack of good leadership and timely decision making as well as no council teamwork," Steeves said. "I am also concerned with many financial decisions, especially the utilization of reserve/surplus funds to balance the operating budget."
Find out more about Steeves at www.edsteeves.ca.
Henderson said he is running for mayor because he wants to build Sechelt into a green, smart and innovative community to be proud of.
"To achieve my vision will take strong leadership and a mayor and council that accepts their responsibilities, works together, is professional and makes the tough decisions," he said.
His platform includes keeping taxes low, making government spending smarter and encouraging new businesses to set up in Sechelt.
"We don't need more studies. We need a laser focus on encouraging businesses to set up in Sechelt-------- - to create jobs and help keep our taxes low," he said.
Henderson is a chartered accountant who has been a businessman for over 30 years.
"I have the professional background and real world practical experience to achieve my vision," he said.
To find out more about Henderson, visit www.johnhendersonformayor.ca.
Smith is running because he believes the current mayor and council are "fundamentally non-functional.
"Critical failures at present are the lack of any spirit of co-operation, lack of trust, inability to communicate with each other and a very confused decision-making process," he said.
Smith said an important role of the mayor is to bring council together to work as a team and put the public first.
"This will be a major challenge and one of my first priorities," Smith said.
He describes himself as a concerned citizen with a desire to give back to his community.
He has volunteered on numerous community associations and has 22 years of experience as a professor of business at Kwantlen University College, SFU and BCIT.
His platform includes doing more to recognize volunteers for the work they do, helping communities and businesses work together collaboratively, promoting Sechelt as a unique tourist destination and taking a hard look at the district's administrative makeup and operations to "optimize accountability and effectiveness."
To find out more about Smith go to www.smithformayor.ca.
