The latest entrant in the race for a Sechelt council seat says he wants to rebuild trust in local government decision-making.
Matt McLean, 27, was born and raised in Sechelt and returned to the community after wrapping up his university studies at Waterloo.
“There is a distinct lack of trust in the decisions that the District of Sechelt and the SCRD (Sunshine Coast Regional District) have made lately,” McLean said in his campaign announcement.
In an interview for Coast Reporter Radio, McLean said, “I want to bring that level of trust back, and I want to do that through action and communication. Communicating why we’re making our decisions and getting people on board with the decisions we’re making.”
McLean said his work as executive director for both the Sechelt Downtown Business Association (SDBA) and Coast Car Co-op, as well as involvement with Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast, the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association, the Davis Bay Community Association and the student government at Capilano University, has helped him build up to entering municipal politics.
McLean recently left the SDBA, but said he’ll continue as much of his other work as possible, after ensuring it doesn’t create conflicts of interest or take up time that should be dedicated to council.
“If elected, the District of Sechelt has to come first,” he said.
McLean’s platform emphasizes creating walkable neighbourhoods, addressing housing needs, improving community engagement and dealing with the water supply.
“The District of Sechelt has been trying to prioritize the reservoir, but it’s been hurting some of the other prongs [of the SCRD strategy],” he said. “I want to move forward with the whole water management plan, which includes water meters, the [Chapman Lake] drawdown, and alternate sources. But the number one priority has to be the reservoir and number two has to be the water meters.”
McLean said when it comes to development, he sees a problem with the way some applications have been handled, and he points to SSC Properties, which was defeated at first reading earlier this year, after first coming forward in 2015, as an example.
“I don’t know if that was the right decision or not,” McLean said. “[But] If they want to make a decision they should make a decision, they should not just let it delay for years, costing the developer money and poisoning that relationship. I hear from so many people, both developers and other investors in business, that don’t want to come to Sechelt because of the lack of respect that the District of Sechelt gives investors in our community, and we need to fix that.”
McLean said he wants to remain independent through the campaign and will not be backing a particular candidate for mayor, or getting involved in any third-party groups.
McLean’s campaign website is electmclean.com, and people interested in attending his Sept. 8 launch event can contact McLean directly at matt@electmclean.com.
You can hear the full Coast Reporter Radio interview with McLean in the episode that will be available Friday at www.coastreporter.net/audio.
