Gibsons councillor Stafford Lumley, who introduced his colleague Silas White at the July 10 launch of White’s campaign for mayor, is hoping to win another term on council.
Lumley confirmed to Coast Reporter this week that he’ll run for re-election, and said one of the reasons is a desire to see some of the projects the current council has launched through to completion.
“I think we’ve set so many balls in motion that can be so positive if they’re realized, and they can be in the next four years. Affordable housing is a big part of it,” he said.
Lumley said a key lesson he learned as a rookie councillor that he thinks will serve him well if he wins a second term is more patience with the municipal process.
He said a consultant working with council at the beginning of the term described it by drawing a forward arrow that looped back at points, but still went forward.
“Forward progress doesn’t always mean continuous forward progress… Just as you’re going forward, you’re going backward. I think in your second term, the backward motions you can see coming, so you’re better prepared to deal with them and make the backward cycle a little smaller,” Lumley said.
Lumley said getting the Armours Beach improvements started and the curbside organics program underway have been important achievements for the current council as well as the progress on affordable housing.
The 2014 campaign, which was Lumley’s introduction to local politics, was one of the most divisive in recent memory, with the George Hotel and Residences project as a major flashpoint. Lumley said he expects the coming campaign to have a different dynamic.
“It was so black and white and it was one issue in the last one,” he said. “I think now it will be a little bit calmer because there will be multiple issues that people are concerned about going forward.”
Councillors Charlene SanJenko and Jeremy Valeriote, who are also both supporting White’s mayoralty run, are still considering whether to seek re-election.
