Mark Lebbell says he won’t be seeking a second term as the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) director for Roberts Creek.
Lebbell, who was elected in 2014 after the area’s previous director, Donna Shugar, chose not to run again, made the announcement via the regular newsletter he includes with the Roberts Creek Community Asso-ciation’s Boot Tales.
“These past three years have been very rewarding, sometimes frustrating, full of learning and growth, and I continue to be humbled by the opportunity and privilege of representing the Creek at the board table,” Lebbell wrote, going on to cite work/life balance, pay and time commitments as the reasons behind his decision.
“With only a couple more years of kids living at home and with elderly parents off-Coast, the current time/availability/remuneration balance does not make it a personally sustainable role for my family and for me,” he said.
As part of an effort to kick off a discussion of SCRD director pay last year, Lebbell took the unusual step of releasing his T4 for 2016. Directors voted to ask for a “staff report on a potential process for a director’s compensation review” before the election. So far that report has yet to come forward.
Lebbell also used his newsletter to update constituents on several issues, including director pay.
“While no one enters local government for the money, I do feel strongly that the role should be resourced at least at a living wage level, which is not currently the case. The provincial government has passed legislation around limiting election campaign spending, I see this as the other side of the democratization coin in ensuring that sitting as a regional district director is open to any citizen who is elected, and that our boards are diverse and representative, and that healthy succession occurs,” he said.
Lebbell is also making an effort to help those thinking of running for the job prepare. He said he’s created a page on his website, robertscreekmark.com, that includes background information on regional districts, a job description, and links to a number of other resources, “including a great blog from a veteran politician about the great reasons to run for office (and a few reasons not to).”
The municipal election is Oct. 20.
