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In search of good governance

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Civic elections are around the corner. In a few short months, folks all over B.C. will be asked to make their mark for the people they think will be most apt to bring good governance to their communities. 

Typically on the Sunshine Coast it’s been my experience that people don’t vote for someone, they vote against someone. That can result in some very fractious councils. By way of examples, I give you the 2011 Sechelt local government. That slate produced a get-’er-done group of business people with the frequently lone dissenting vote of Coun. Alice Lutes. And what did that bring about in 2014? A group many electors thought were the polar opposites – a council and mayor who appear to want the status quo – with once again, one frequent dissenter: Coun. Darnelda Siegers. It will be interesting to see what this fall brings. Siegers is running for mayor and the battlefields are already being drawn. Although it’s probably wishful thinking, the district would probably benefit from a more balanced council. 

Gibsons in the past has seen some extremely acrimonious elections. With Mayor Wayne Rowe retiring this year, the head job is wide open. With one of the primary sources of polarity, The George, on its way to reality, it will be interesting to see what divides the voters at the south end of the Coast. 

The faces of the Sunshine Coast Regional District will be very different on Oct. 21. Longtime Halfmoon Bay director and regional district chair Garry Nohr is retiring and most of the current directors are doing the same. That leaves gaping holes in the continuity of the governance of the region as a whole. With crucial concerns such as water supply and conservation up for consideration, it will be a tall order for a group of mostly new politicians to come up to speed quickly. 

I believe local politicians to be the most committed and caring of any level of elected officials. They’re the most accessible, the most impacted by their decisions and the worst paid for their four years of playing Solomon. 

Last Saturday, one of the longest-serving mayors of Peachland, local Sechelt resident and my friend, George Waldo, died. I invite many who are contemplating public office to take a page from George’s handbook – like and respect the people who do and don’t vote for you and never lose sight of the fact that, at the end of the day, these folks are your neighbours.