Sechelt mayoralty candidates answered questions about business development, working with the Sechelt Indian Band (SIB), creating a cohesive council, the community charter, transparency and economic development at a luncheon hosted by the Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce Nov. 2.
Incumbent Darren Inkster and mayoralty candidates John Henderson, Ed Steeves and Douglas Smith fielded the questions from a room full of business people, citizens and Chamber members who wanted answers Wed-nesday afternoon.
Because the event ran for only about an hour, questions and responses were kept short, and candidates were given a strict one-minute time limit to answer.
The first question from the audience was about how candidates propose to stimulate business development in the downtown core.
Henderson said, if elected, his council would listen to business.
"I think that's what most businesses are looking for - to know that they'll get a friendly reception from a very co-operative council and mayor - and that's certainly a big part of what I would bring," Henderson said.
Smith said he found the recent night markets successful and would like to expand on them.
"The other thing we have to look at is revitalizing our storefronts. If you take a walk downtown, it's almost close to dead zone and we have to revitalize the way it looks," he said.
Steeves said council could look at many options to help the downtown businesses expand and grow.
"One of the first things that we need to look at is maybe a hotel or something here to create a place to come. Bed and breakfasts have done a great job so far, but not everybody wants to stay in a bed and breakfast," Steeves said.
Inkster said his council has done a lot to revitalize the downtown core this term.
"That's one thing we focused on and we put a lot of money into sidewalks, baskets, tourism promotion with the Sechelt Downtown Business Association and working with the Chamber," he said.
On the question of creating a dialogue with the SIB, Inkster said he has developed a relationship with the SIB council.
"I've had a long historical relationship with many of the Band members through local community activities and sport. That's what you need to do with our First Nations and our Band is develop a trusting relationship," he said.
Steeves said he had many meetings with Band members during his time on the Sunshine Coast Regional District board, and said he has spoken with the SIB chief many times.
Smith said it is important to learn how to relate to the SIB.
"One of the most difficult things when you're working with First Nations is you have to be able to completely understand their culture and work within their culture, not within our culture to get things resolved. Otherwise you never get together," Smith said.
Henderson said he has worked with members of the SIB in the past on the sewage commission, noting he saw the will from Band members to get involved with what is going on in Sechelt.
"I think the dialogue has been lacking," he said.
When asked how candidates would create a cohesive council if elected, Henderson said that would be his first duty.
"The first duty of the mayor is to, in fact, figure out how to bring the various members of council together, and a big part of that comes out of experience in leadership," he said.
Smith agreed saying he would meet with each individual councillor to find out what their objectives and plans are.
"You also have to keep in mind that you don't want a group of six people bleating happily along the way doing everything you want them to do," he noted.
Steeves said he had the experience of leading a group of people who were difficult to lead while chair of the SCRD board.
"It takes experience to be able to sit down and discuss things," Steeves said.
Inkster said if he were elected as mayor again he would be sure to make his council more cohesive.
"What happened last time was that the community elected six different people with different ideas, fairly strong-minded people with ideas about where the community would go. If you came to meetings you would know that once again I did my best to try to get that group to make decisions," Inkster said.
When asked if candidates have read the community charter and know what constitutes an in-camera meeting, all said they did.
Everyone also said they were in favour of votes being recorded whether they are for or against a motion at council.
Finally, candidates were asked if they would continue to honour the commitment Sechelt council has made to be involved in Coast-wide economic development.
All plan to stay involved in the initiative if elected.
