Following nomination deadline day, Roberts Creek is the electoral area with the most candidates running for Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) director. Five candidates submitted papers, including two newly declared contenders: Barbara Hague and Andreas Tize.
Hague, owner of Sharkey’s Fish Locker and a captain who has worked in the commercial fishing industry for 40 years, is giving politics another shot. She ran in the 2014 election with the goal of no tax increases, affordable housing and creating living-wage jobs, and was the only woman candidate in that Roberts Creek race.
According to her release, her platform remains largely similar. She is also seeking to promote arts, culture, tourism and local sports and improve roadways. “Low cost housing is also a must,” reads the release, in addition to supporting First Nations “for all endeavours.” She also wants to keep “fish farms out of the water,” and protect the watershed.
Tize is a relative newcomer to the Coast, having moved to Roberts Creek four years ago. The 40-year-old said he was encouraged to run by Gibsons Coun. Silas White. “I threw my hat in for the advisory planning committee in Gibsons last year and I guess during that time my resume crossed the councillors’ desks.” Tize said White encouraged him to run before anyone had declared in Roberts Creek, in part because of his planning background.
Tize has a master’s degree in planning from Simon Fraser University and before that worked for Westcoast Sightseeing for 10 years, which was the largest domestic bus supplier for the 2010 Winter Games.
Tize supports pay per use through water meters. “Increased cost should be carried by those that also use the most water. Without incentives to conserve water, very little conservation will happen,” reads his website platform. He also wants to address the landfill, cannabis regulation after it is legalized, and affordable housing.
Rather than focus on key issues, Tize said his ability “to mediate, research, gather facts, get into dialogue with members of the community, and then move forward with rational decisions” is his most important quality. “What we need on the board is cooperation and rational thought, not candidates with pet-peeves,” he said.
Three other candidates have already declared their candidacy. Retired communications specialist and former newspaper reporter Cathrine Fuller was the first in Roberts Creek to declare. She along with Steve Baker, who declared mid-August, are both newcomers to local government politics. Hans Penner, known for his leadership role with Elphinstone Logging Focus, ran in 2014.
Outgoing Area D director Mark Lebbell told Coast Reporter Sept. 18 that “at this point” he would not endorse a particular candidate. He also provided the following statement.
“It’s great to have five candidates running in Roberts Creek, and will make for a healthy discussion of the issues. Two of those candidates are known well to the community, having run in 2011 and 2014. I would encourage Roberts Creekers to learn about the platforms and approaches of the three new candidates during the campaign, and make an informed voting decision accordingly.”
Nominees have until Sept. 21 to withdraw and campaigning begins Sept. 22. Voting day is Oct. 20.
