Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog could jump to municipal politics. If, as expected, he announces today that he will run for mayor, Nanaimo voters can take heart that he or another strong candidate can get the city back on track.
Political observers are in a tizzy because if the NDP MLA leaves the legislature, the minority government’s margin becomes even thinner. Important as that might be, however, Nanaimo’s council is in crisis and needs leadership to get it back to something resembling normalcy.
Krog is an experienced politician, who was first elected to the legislature in 1991. His opponents are likely to be Don Hubbard, former chairman of the board of Island Health, and retired RCMP officer Norm Smith. Mayor Bill McKay hasn’t said if he would run for re-election.
Nanaimo council has been riven by factional fighting, the loss of senior employees, RCMP investigations and the appointment of two special prosecutors. It has become a laughingstock to the rest of the country, but it’s no laughing matter for Nanaimo residents.
They want and need a council that can focus on the city’s business. Councillors don’t have to agree, but they do have to take their responsibilities seriously enough to put aside personal animosities.
The fact that credible candidates such as Krog, Hubbard and Smith are willing to take on the challenge gives the city’s residents hope for the future.
