New and familiar faces on North Cowichan’s much-changed council agree Saturday’s election gave them a golden chance to move the municipality forward in constructive, co-operative ways.
Incumbent mayor Jon Lefebure was stoked about his new “balanced” council.
It also holds poll-topping freshman Rob Douglas and newcomers Maeve Maguire and Joyce Behnsen, plus former mayor Tom Walker, and incumbent councillors Kate Marsh and Al Siebring.
“We have a mix of views right across the spectrum to help us make good decisions,” Lefebure said, after scoring his fourth mayoral seat.
“Our citizens chose a progressive council, not a regressive one. “They expect (council) to build our community and improve things, and look after their (tax) money carefully, wisely and in a progressive way.”
Lefebure cited a “trade-off” between fresh councillors and able ones who retired.
“The obvious change is experience. We lost three very strong women from council in Barb (Lines), Ruth (Hartmann), and Jen (Woike), but in return we’ll get some very bright new minds bringing their own new backgrounds and creative ideas to what we do.”
Some folks divided North Cowichan candidates into tax busters (Siebring, Behnsen, Walker) versus those more interested in services and sustainability (Douglas, Marsh, Maguire).
Behnsen was the sole representative elected from the tax-busting TEAM slate, but said she will be committed to being part of the new council team.
“My goal is to work with anybody and everybody,” she said.
Council’s makeup “tells me there are very strong groups of voters who had time to get the vote out,” said Behnsen, “compared to busy people working hard and affected by high taxes, but unfortunately they didn’t take time to get to voting stations.”
She visualized a balanced approach to planned development.
“We need to be a strong, green-and-clean community, but with job opportunities. We’ve got a wonderful team. Around the council table, I’m looking for timely decisions based on information and facts,” she said.
Douglas — flattered at topping the polls after knocking on 6,000 doors — was amped about getting down to work after North Cowichan’s Dec. 3 inaugural meeting.
“We have enough studies; I want to build something tomorrow,” he said, noting voters’ tax and economic-growth concerns twinned water- and environmental-protection demands.
He was eager to see council become a catalyst for green development to stretch the tax base — perhaps through affordable housing co-ops, using public land for new enterprises, gaining senior-government grants, local investment funds and other tools.
“People are hungry for new ideas. We also have the CVRD’s Economic Development Commission, and it’s time to shift its focus,” he said. “Council has to take a more active (economic development) role. That’s what people want; we can’t just sit back.
“It’s about empowering the people who live here.”
Douglas suggested private value-added plants using the municipal forest, small-scale manufacturing, and renewable-energy initiatives.
Lefebure expects holding the line on taxes, while balancing growth and nature, is bound to be hotly debated by his council.
“The difference can be in how far some are willing to go to improve the community,” he said. “You don’t want everyone on one side of the teeter-totter.”
Lefebure edged his conservative challenger John Koury by a close margin. Koury said the third candidate, Damir Wallener, was a factor in the results.
“The third candidate ran to be a spoiler and in that regard he was successful,” Koury posted on his Facebook page. “The bureaucrats are jumping for joy, I can assure you. It is clear we live in a polarized area and the left seem to inch over each time.
“We are happy in spite of the short-term feelings of disappointment and I am very grateful and proud of my team. We took the high road and put out actionable ideas that would not raise taxes. Only a few more supported the status quo compared to my platform.”
Voter turnout was about 33 per cent, compared to about 32 per cent in 2011.
Official results for mayor were:
Jon Lefebure 3,234
John Koury 3,018
Damir Wallener 1,411
Official results for council were:
Rob Douglas 3,466
Tom Walker 3,391
Al Siebring 3,053
Kate Marsh 2,987
Maeve Maguire 2,485
Joyce Behnsen 2,277
Paul Fletcher 2,096
Greg Robson 2,078
Dave Haywood 1,981
Ron Waller 1,729
Jenni Capps 1,662
Lura McCallum 1,543
George Gates 1,514
Jim Fane 1,488
Nick Caumanns 1,481
Peggy Bran 1,134
Jagtar Singh Mann 1,120
Heather Campbell 1,008
Laurie Thomson 980
Jeffrey Motley 379
