Balance seems to be the key word for candidates running in the District of Central Saanich in the 2014 municipal election.
Whether talking about the district’s key issues of taxation, land-use or affordable housing, council and mayoral candidates alike have tended to favour the kind of compromise that defines a district that juggles the problems of a rural community with an industrial heart.
At Spelt’s Coffee Shop, near the corner of Wallace Drive and East Saanich Road, the fourth series of “coffee with the candidates” nights has kicked off.
The caffeine-fueled election tradition is a chance for residents to get up close and personal with the candidates and actually get a chance to debate the issues and understand the person behind the election platform.
“I always felt the typical [all-candidates forums] were so structured that you never really got to know the person,” says café owner Ron Spelt.
Spelt provides the venue and coffee for two candidates on given nights to hold court with anyone that walks through the door.
Spelt said this time around, he expects the conversation in his shop will focus on the district’s tentative purchase of the Maber Flats wetlands — which raised ire over the $1.7-million pricetag — densification, affordable housing and revitalizing Saanichton, which many believe has been neglected.
The mayor’s race, which includes David Shebib, who is running in all municipalities to draw attention to the fact that having 13 mayors in Greater Victoria is “ludicrous,” features a familiar face taking on a relative newcomer.
Former mayor Jack Mar, who sat in the big chair from 2005-2011, is up against Ryan Windsor, who has been a councillor since 2013.
They seek the position held by Alastair Bryson since 2011.
» READ MORE: Candidate profiles
Central Saanich facts
- There are seven seats on council including the mayor
- The new faces running are David Shebib for mayor and John Hannam, Baldev Lalli, William (Tex) Moodrey, Shawn Munro and Niall Paltiel for council; The other mayoral candidates, Jack Mar and Ryan Windsor have both served on council before, Mar prior to 2011 and Windsor sat on council between 2011-14; Mayor Alastair Bryson is not running for re-election
- The incumbents in the race for council seats are Alicia Cormier, Carl Jensen and Zeb King while Christopher Graham, Susan Mason and Bob Thompson have all sat on council previously.
- The longest serving councillor/mayor running in this election is Jack Mar who sat as a councillor between 1988-93, 1999-2002 and as mayor between 2005-2011.
- The key issues that seem to come up are affordable housing, striking a balance between rural and urban living and fiscal responsibility
- Councillors make $11,862 annually, and the Mayor makes $30,136.
- The population of the municipality is 16,172
- There are an estimated 13,066 eligible voters
- In 2011 4,674 people voted
- The municipality has an operating budget of $33.7 million for 2014
- This year there is a referendum question on amalgamation included on the ballot. It reads: Should the District of Central Saanich petition the province to fund a cost/benefit analysis of an amalgamation of Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney?
- On general voting day there are two polling stations for the municipality — Central Saanich Cultural Centre, 1209 Clarke Rd. and Municipal Hall, 1903 Mount Newton Cross Rd.
