Editor's note: Between now and Nov. 11, Coast Reporter will run submitted 300-word profiles from all candidates for the Nov. 19 municipal election. Candidates for this week's profiles were given until 5 p.m. Oct. 25 to respond. This week we profile the four candidates for Sechelt mayor and nine candidates for Sunshine Coast Regional District.
SECHELT MAYOR
John Henderson
I want to be mayor of Sechelt because, over the past three years, our wonderful town has fallen behind in so many ways. For example, our property taxes have increased far too much along with district government spending.
If you will allow me to be your mayor, we will show real leadership, make decisions and build a community we are all proud of. We will keep taxes down - we cannot allow increases to be routine (for those on fixed incomes, in particular, this is intolerable). I will, personally, work tirelessly to bring new innovative, green and dynamic businesses to Sechelt. (New businesses will increase the number of jobs in Sechelt which, in turn, will broaden our tax base and thereby keep our taxes low.) We will build a comprehensive sewer treatment facility that is odourless and green. The current mayor and council's plan, which means odours from the Ebbtide treatment plant will permeate downtown Sechelt for at least another seven years, is just not acceptable. Residents deserve much better than this. (And, yes, we can afford it.) We will instill a positive, winning attitude throughout Sechelt - to make us into a community that other towns want to emulate.
As a chartered accountant, an entrepreneur and a community volunteer for the past 34 years, I have the experience and financial acumen to deal with these challenges, in a practical sense - and to get the most for taxpayers' dollars. Please look at my website for more details about my background: www.JohnHendersonForMayor.ca.
In closing, it's time - for leadership, smart decision-making and a responsive, friendlier city hall. I am excited about the opportunity to make Sechelt a vibrant and successful community.
Please, on Nov. 19, vote for John Henderson. I won't let you down.
Darren Inkster
My name is Darren Inkster. I am humbly seeking a second term in a community my family has lived in and adored for many years. I am a family man who resides in Davis Bay. I am university educated with a total of seven years of education from Simon Fraser University and Capilano University. My family has owned and operated a medium-sized local business that has proudly employed more than 20 local people for over 25 years. My volunteer experience working with youth locally is extensive. I am asking for a second term because I believe my leadership and experience are needed now to complete projects such as: creating more vibrant public spaces, completing the livability plan, continuing to revitalize the downtown business area and waterfront, plan additional park and trail developments and facilitate the Davis Bay parkway proposal. I pledge to complete these projects through collaboration and consultation and within budgets, while at the same time placing Sechelt in the enviable position of being the best, most livable place to be.
Douglas Smith
I am concerned that our Sechelt council is in danger of being hijacked by a self-serving interest group. This time your choice of mayor is absolutely critical. Think of an election as hiring someone to act on your behalf. Ask yourself this question: "Who can I trust to represent the interests of all Sechelt's residents in an impartial, professional and respectful manner?" Which candidate will ensure that diverse groups such as business, neighbourhoods, low-income families, conservationists, developers, the arts community and young people are all given an equal opportunity to be heard?
While attending council meetings, I've become increasingly concerned about the tone of the proceedings, the lack of sound leadership and faulty decision-making. The present council is ineffective in responding to the competing needs of communities and business. Business needs certainty. Communities need fair hearings.
Did you know that seniors are our highest source of revenue? We need a practical, comprehensive plan to safeguard their future needs. Expanding tourism, innovative employment strategies and affordable housing for our young families are examples of other challenges we face.
Red tape is a big issue among Sechelt businesses. Inefficiencies in district operations need addressing. And there are the many other serious concerns identified in two recent and outstanding reports, We Envision: One Coast and Vital Signs.
I have a masters degree in business administration, have owned several companies and have been a business professor / management consultant for 22 years. We have two adult children and three perfect grandchildren. My volunteer work in Sechelt includes: president of the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre, vice-chair on the board at Habitat, president of the Sechelt Village Community Association, a director of Hidden Groves Society, chair of Sechelt Advisory Planning Commission, chair of SCAF and contributor to our Visions Plan and Sechelt's official community plan.
Ed Steeves
I decided to run for mayor of Sechelt as I was very concerned and disappointed with the current council - disappointed with the lack of support for jobs (e.g. Target Marine), concerned with the lack of teamwork within council and between council members and staff, disappointed with the lack of decision making, and concerned about the poor business practices (misuse of reserve/surplus funds).
Part of my platform and interest areas are: to create an "open for business" attitude; to encourage new development, which is good for Sechelt and all our people; to create jobs through growth and development while job saving; to resolve the issue of a new sewer treatment facility; to address the West Sechelt homes paying for sewer but not connected; to support the preservation of the Davis Bay seawall; to address airport expansion (a benefit for future growth?); and to spend only what we taxpayers can afford.
My political experience includes 22 years in municipal government including eight in Sechelt, with six of those years also at the Regional District and five as elected chair of the board, and also six years on Gibsons council.
Job and business history: I am a retired chiropractor; have owned and developed a 90-home subdivision; owned, built and operated a 200-site RV park; owned and president of Bend Boat Co., which built fibreglass fishing boats; and owned heavy equipment for commercial snow removal in New Brunswick.
My volunteering (naming a few): obtained seniors 80+ driving tests in Sechelt; obtained $100,000 provincial funding for the electric Zamboni at the Gibsons Arena; eight years RCMP Auxiliary; six years Sunshine Coast Golf Club Board including three years as president; obtained Olympic status for the sport of curling.
Personal: I am married to wife Helen, with four children, two grandchildren and dog Bear. I have lived 23 years on Sunshine Coast, 12 in Sechelt.
SCRD Area A
(Pender Harbour/Egmont)
Mike Carson
My wife Lori Pickering and I have been full-time residents of Pen-der Harbour for close to 14 years, and we love the Sun-shine Coast. We have been involved with many worthwhile economic and social initiatives Coast-wide. I am running for director of Area A because I care about my community.
I care about keeping a high quality of service at a reasonable cost, and getting good value for our tax dollar is my top priority. We must develop a long-range sustainability plan for our communities and identify key actions needed to achieve that vision.
I care that the declining economy is hurting small businesses and employment opportunities. We can predict that in the near future more retirees will be seeking healthy lifestyles and safe, affordable neighbourhoods right here. We must be proactive in marketing to and embracing this demographic trend while at the same time finding solutions for affordable housing and infrastructure improvements such as water.
I care about communication and think that we could foster harmony within Area A by bringing the far-flung neighbourhoods together under a new volunteer advisory association to discuss each zone's issues and priorities. We must all work together as one to achieve our separate goals, both within Pender Harbour and the larger community of the Sunshine Coast.
I am confident that my ability to grasp and respond to the key issues as well as my willingness to listen to my constituents and work with them will result in effective leadership. I am an active listener who can communicate effectively with board members and staff and represent the issues of the taxpayers. My energy and enthusiastic approach to promoting collaborative economic initiatives are what Pender Harbour needs so we may prosper in the coming years.
Frank Mauro
I am running for director in Area A, Egmont/Pender Harbour because I want to preserve the lifestyle and heritage of this area while encouraging compatible economic development to guarantee our future.
I would work to: obtain fair value for taxes paid; ensure the official community plan is followed and maintained; protect and enhance safe public access to the waterfront and other recreational areas; encourage economic development appropriate to the unique character of our area; support volunteer groups, who form the backbone of the community; and maintain professionalism and integrity in the decision making of the SCRD board.
I live in Garden Bay with my wife Joanne. We have owned our home for eight years and have been permanent residents for five years since we retired. Before retiring, I worked 30-plus years in ore processing and port facilities. I managed supervisors, employees, engineering consultants and contractors, and liaised with legal and regulatory agencies. My duties included planning, budgeting, organizing and managing both small and large projects.
My wife and I are active volunteers in our community. I have volunteered for Harbour Authority as a director and, for the past three years, as chairman. I was instrumental in obtaining grants to extend Hospital Bay floats and to upgrade Madeira Park, Hospital Bay and Whiskey Slough docks. Also, I led negotiations to re-establish public moorage at Irvine's Landing.
I bring to the table: skill in achieving consensus in large groups and working collaboratively; strong technical background and a calm, reasoned approach and analytical skills; experience in planning and organizing projects; success in setting and managing large budgets; consistent record of completing projects on budget and on schedule; full-time availability and commitment to address concerns of all Area A residents.
SCRD Area B
(Halfmoon Bay)
Roger Lagassé
Honouring the official community plan means maintaining and enhancing community access to good drinking water and high quality local food and shelter in a peaceful natural environment. This requires everyone's involvement. Denise and I raised our children for 23 years in Halfmoon Bay so we are grateful for the quality of life we have enjoyed here and wish to ensure this possibility for future generations.
The restoration of the Clowhom salmon run (destroyed by dam construction in the 1950s) can help us achieve the goal of food self-sufficiency for our area. Quinn Barabash, a determined young man from Redrooffs, swam through the Skookumchuck to Porpoise Bay last summer to promote this great project. Let's support him in any way possible. Encouraging residents to develop productive gardens, orchards and farms is desirable as well.
The Spipiyus National Park initiative, a world-class park celebrating the natural wonders of the Coast and local First Nations culture, includes most of our area. It is on the scale of other large Canadian parks such as Gwaii Hannas, Banff and Jasper. This will create lots of local sustainable employment while at the same time celebrating the natural environment and honouring First Nations heritage. This is a win-win-win initiative deserving our energetic involvement.
Let's invest in search and rescue infrastructure and local disaster readiness. In terms of national defence and decentralized decision-making, I like the Swiss model of direct democracy. Citizens make most government decisions locally. Switzerland avoids intervening militarily in other countries. The Swiss have strong domestic defence programs while favouring genuine humanitarian initiatives such as the Geneva Conventions and the Red Cross.
Area B voters can email [email protected] or phone 604-885-4353. Google "roger lagasse" +scrd.
Garry Nohr
Garry Nohr is running for re-election as SCRD director of Halfmoon Bay after spending the past six years as a representative keen on furthering the waste management and recycling program, economic development, trails expansion and affordable housing.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Garry has lived full time on the Sunshine Coast for 10 years. He has over 20 years experience as a high school administrator, maintaining substantial budgets in a school-based program. As director, Garry has spent considerable time working on the PPA mining concern and met with several provincial ministers to further Sunshine Coast interests. He has supported the new sports field at Chatelech School and the upgrading of fields at Halfmoon Bay School and Connor Park. He has consistently upheld the mandate of the regional district to look after waste management facilities and programs, recreational facilities, parks, trails, hospital and water supply. These are the most important local issues for which the SCRD is responsible, and time must be put in to address these effectively in order to manage taxpayers' funds.
Garry understands the SCRD sustainable budget process, and his experience is needed to assist the taxpayers of Halfmoon Bay. During his time in office, he has proven his commitment to initiatives that help ensure clean drinking water and protect the watershed. He will continue to work on management of the watershed throughout the next term. Although responsibility for most social issues is not a mandate of the SCRD, Garry still works for funding from or lobbying of other governments to assist. He has been involved in fundraisers in the community to support social issues and has been a strong advocate for affordable housing. As a member of the local Rotary Club, he has participated in both local and international projects.
SCRD Area D
(Roberts Creek)
Barbara Hague
Eastern born from a large family, found B.C. as a young woman. I settled down in the fishing industry for the last 39 years. I obtained my captain's ticket. I have been running two companies in the last 38 years. I have one business in the fishing industry and the other business, Sharkey's Fish Locker in Roberts Creek, a food processor and deli.
I have resided on the Sunshine Coast for the last 21 years. I have been in many managerial positions. I have my hands in accounting and computer skills. I am interested in the arts, music writing and painting. I have been environmentally outspoken about the salmon issues now facing the fishing industry.
I have always been interested in politics. The financial end has my strongest interest. I saw the need for the small business to have a stronger voice in the community. Family is very important and many issues have arisen.
I have been here serving the community for the last eight years and I would love to serve you on another level - and it's all just for the halibut.
Oh, to be a fisherman and ride the golden wave / To fish the silver salmon in all its glory days / Lost to industrial pollution, an excuse for modern ways / Oh, to be a salmon, to fight for a place to stay.
Contact Barbara Hague at [email protected].
Hans Penner
After years of working as a concerned citizen on important issues such as watershed protection, I feel that I am ready and able to make a more effective contribution to the community as regional director for Area D, Roberts Creek.
Important areas that will receive my immediate and sustained attention, based on a two-way dialogue with citizens, are the following:
Protection of our drinking water: Fresh, clean water is a primary health need. Chapman Creek watershed is our main source of water, yet presently there are still illegal dump sites and garbage left by what appears to be drinking parties. This is a public health issue. Gates need to be installed and the dump and garbage sites cleaned up.
Parks and Forests: There is very little old growth forest left on the lower slopes between Sechelt and Port Mellon. Establishing the expanded 1,500 hectare provincial park and protecting the ancient forests on Dakota Ridge has to be done now, while there is still some natural forest left. Expanding the park at the Roberts Creek pier, beach and mandala to increase the upland area and open up the waterfront to the public should be the highest regional parks priority.
Transportation: Highway 101 is not safe and has become a deterrent to bicycle and pedestrian use. Turning lanes at all intersections, re-alignment to improve sight distances and wide paved shoulders are required to safely accommodate other users besides cars. The SCRD needs to show leadership and insist that the Ministry of Transportation complete these needed safety improvements.
Professionally, I have worked as a district technician and as a municipal planner. If elected, I will continue to use all my experience and knowledge to work with and for the people of Roberts Creek.
Donna Shugar
As the director for Roberts Creek for the last six years, I have worked to keep Roberts Creek an inclusive community where everyone enjoys a healthy, sustainable environment and economic dignity. One cornerstone of my board work has been collaboration and consensus building. The important work in a democracy happens between elections, and I believe in involving citizens in public policy debate throughout the community.
During this last term, the board set the stage for some very potent regional action. The regional sustainability plan, We Envision, is a blueprint for creating a community that is as good for our children's children as it is for us. Our community and corporate energy and emissions plan will guide us in achieving those goals in the most energy efficient way possible.
I have been a strong advocate for creating regional citizen advisory committees for agriculture, alternative transportation and affordable housing to help us make wise decisions in these three increasingly important areas. I have been a champion for SCRD negotiations with BC Timber Sales to ensure ecologically sound logging practices on Mount Elphinstone that will protect both biodiversity and the interests of downstream residents who depend on Elphinstone forests for drinking water. I have also been a passionate advocate for the protection of Chapman / Grey watershed.
In Roberts Creek, we have just given the new official community plan first reading. This is a really "Smart" plan. It sustains the vision of Roberts Creek as a small-scale rural community with a vibrant, walkable downtown core. I will continue to develop bike lanes and safer pedestrian routes, work to create a community garden in the village core and address the issue of currently underutilized parkland. Visit me at the Gumboot Café, Saturdays 9:30 to 11 a.m., or look for more information at www.creekdirector.ca or www.donnashugar.blogspot.com and on Facebook and Twitter.
SCRD Area E
(Elphinstone)
Lorne Lewis
I was first elected to preserve the rural atmosphere in our area and to add a strong voice on the SCRD board to speak for the environment and to work toward sustainable financial practices.
Protecting our water sources from degradation that would put the quality of water at risk has been an interest of mine long before being elected. I will continue to speak out against any activities that pose a threat to our drinking water sources.
Recently we've begun to undertake a number of activities aimed at shoreline reparation in the Ocean Beach Esplanade area and particularly around Chaster House, Chaster Park and Creek. I look forward to working on these in the next term. I will continue to work on improving walking and cycling paths in the area and also will continue to try to improve public transit both locally and regionally.
This past term I was pleased to speak to several issues to gain more freedom for local food producers and aid in the formation of an agriculture advisory committee. I hope to be able to find ways to encourage food production locally, to improve the ability of our local food producers to farm and to protect as much land as possible from being removed from the ALR.
I moved to Elphinstone in 1980 along with my wife Anne and our family. Our children have moved into Vancouver but we're still here. I've worked as a realtor since 1982; included in that were nine years chairing the property assessment review panel. I've actively volunteered for a number of community activities. Prior to coming to the Sunshine Coast, I worked in the food industry and served three different times as a member of the union negotiating committee.
Laura Wallace
My name is Laura Wallace, and I'm running for director of Area E (Elphinstone) of the SCRD. I feel that a policy of infinite growth is not only unsustainable, it's impossible. As such, I am a proponent of de-growth: de-growing the economy, de-growing industry. ?Instead of allowing large multi-national corporations to log our old-growth forests, instead of building over-priced housing developments and destroying our natural resources, we should be saying "no" to these proposals. Supporting locally-owned business allows us to invest in our community, supporting our friends and neighbours. Vote with your dollar!?
Food security and sustainability are important to me. Producing our own food, sharing it with our neighbours, this is the way forward.
This reduces our carbon footprint and allows us to eat healthy and nutritious food made in our backyards, not on a factory farm thousands of kilometres away. The joy and pride one feels in producing homegrown food shouldn't be ignored either. With so much abundance to be found on the Sunshine Coast - mushrooms, berries, wild greens, various types of seafood - why are we spending so much money to have these items farmed for us so far away? Look in your backyard for your next meal!?
I strongly encourage people to work less, consume less, and play more. Not every home needs a lawn mower, a gas barbecue, or a car. We can share with our neighbours. Buying less stuff means that we aren't contributing to a global economy based on Third World wage slaves. It also means we can spend less time at work earning money to buy things we don't need. Less time at work, less money spent on unnecessary luxury consumer goods, more time to spend doing what you enjoy. Celebrate the planet and shrink the economy!
Editor's note: Next week in the Nov. 4 edition we will profile the 14 candidates for council in the District of Sechelt.
