In exactly a year, the community will either be finished with next year's municipal election or deep in the throws of municipal elections
I thought I would take the opportunity to look forward to next fall's local government elections in the Cariboo-Chilcotin and see what lays ahead
District of Wells:
Mayor and Council - Mayor Vermette & his Councillors' have been doing a good job managing affairs in Wells and I suspect that all could easily acclaim their offices. Mayor Vermette "could" face a challenger but I wouldn't bet on it and his 4 Councillors are likely not to see any challengers'
City of Quesnel:
Mayor Mary Sjostrom - She's done a great job and I believe that she can easily be acclaimed to her office, if she chooses to run again in 2011. The only challenger that could force an election for the Quesnel Mayor's office is former Mayor Nate Bello and even then, she would, in my view, trounce right over Mr. Bello for a 2nd term
Councillor Ron Paull - a fairly competent Councillor and strong advocate for Quesnel. If he seeks another term, see him remain as Councillor
Councillor Sushil Thapar - again, a competent Councillor and should he seek another term, see him remain as Councillor.
Councillor Peter Couldwell - long-term Councillor who freely gives his time for Quesnel-area events. Also, strong advocate for Quesnel. He recently suffered a health challenge and may play a role in next year's civic election on whether or not he seeks re-election. I hope not...but in any event, if he chose to seek another term, he would easily be re-elected
Councillor Coralee Oakes - strong advocate for Quesnel and certainly her role as Manager of Quesnel's Chamber of Commerce has helped greatly on putting Quesnel on the provincial scene. If she seeks re-election, she will easily win
Councillors Mike Cave & Laurey-Anne Roodenburg - 1st time Quesnel City Councillors. Both have done a good job managing the City of Quesnel. I would be personally disappointed if both decided not to seek re-election. I know Councillor Cave has had some difficulities with work interfering with Council duties, but that should not be a deterrent from Councillor Cave from being re-elected. Councillor Roodenburg also has done well and should she seek re-election, she will easily be re-elected
Please Note - The 6 City Councillors will have challengers in any event but it is my expectation that the incumbents will easily fend off any challengers as none of the sitting City Councillors have done anything wrong, in my view, that would come close to justifying a defeat of the sitting 6 Quesnel City Councillors
District of 100 Mile House:
Mayor Mitch Campsall - has done well, on balance, but has made his share of mistakes including critizing former Mayor (and current Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA) Donna Barnett over challenges on 2009 District of 100 Mile House Budget. Many I talk with in 100 Mile seem disappointed with his performance. Expect him to be challenged. If this occurs, it will depend on the dynamic of the election campaign if he wins re-election or not
Councillors Jeanne Best, Mel Torgenson, Bill Hadden and Dave Mingo - have been competent Councillors and I expect that they will seek re-election but there were multiple people who ran for Councillors and expect the same again
City of Williams Lake:
Mayor Kerry Cook - this is a Mayor who acts like she listens, but does otherwise. She has, in my view, been unable to project a vision or respect or acknowledge people's concerns and act on them. She has not respected the experience in senior City Councillor Surinder Rathor and I could go on and on. In short - because of this and because of her unprecedented early announcement for a 2nd term (the earliest in the City's history), she is likely to lose the next election to whomever decides to challenge her for the Mayor's Office - which may include City Councillor Surinderpal Rathor, former City Councillor and Mayoralty-candidate Paul French or even former City of WL Mayor Scott Nelson. Time will time - but expect the race for the Mayor's office to be hotly contested
Councillor Sue Zacharias - a fairly-quiet Councillor, but she too has made her share of mistakes but not always having her facts straight on issues. I expect her to run again, but she will face conflict-on-interest questions relating to the Mackenzie Avenue Project, co-owing United Concrete and being Chair of Council's Public Works Portfolio
Councillor Geoff Bourdon - a very competent Councillor. Does his homework 99% of the time. I expect him to run again. His chances of success - pretty good. Some pitfalls - his support for the Cariboo Lodge Task Force, but I don't expect that to be a major issue unless the community decides that the Cariboo Lodge issue is a priority issue for them
Councillor Laurie Walters - a decent Councillor. Sometimes gives the appearance of not doing her homework before Council or Committee of the Whole meetings'. As an active supporter of the Community Arts Council/Studio Theatre Society, her outward support for Arts & Culture can get in the way of making a good decision (ie - recent Community Arts Council "Piano-for-Debt" deal). Also her support for the Cariboo Lodge Task Force will be a hindrance. Otherwise, her chances for success are on par with other candidates.
Councillor Tom Barr - a very good and competent Councillor. Handles Council's Finance Portfolio very well. Pitfalls for him in next fall's election will include support for Cariboo Lodge Task Force, support for the Community Arts Council "Piano-for-Debt" deal and budget overrun for new WL Fire Hall (if not openly discussed before next fall's election). His chances for re-election are fair
Councillor Natalie Hébert - a quiet Councillor who too sometimes doesn't have her facts straight or doesn't bother showing up to meetings, outside of Council or Committee of the Whole. Pitfalls for next fall's election include support for Cariboo Lodge Task Force, Community Arts Council "Piano-for-Debt" deal. Her chances for success - less than 50%. New candidates should have an easy time knocking her off Council
Councillor (Deputy Mayor) Surinderpal Rathor - going into his 18th year on Council, Councillor Rathor has really shown himself to be a good representative of "the people". His lack of support on two City Budgets, no support on the Cariboo Lodge Task Force/Community Arts Council "Piano-for-Debt" deal should hold him in high regard with voters' next fall. See Councillor Rathor to run again and easily win re-election and in fact, see him get first place in terms of all votes casts among Councillor-candidates
Cariboo Regional District:
Area A - this post is held by Ted Armstrong and has been since the late 70's and to the best of my knowledge has never been an election in Area 'A'. I expect Mr. Armstrong to go for re-election and get re-acclaimed. However, with everything in life, and with the recent passing of his Alternate Director, Mr. Armstrong may re-visit a decision to continually run for office
Area 'B' - Roberta Faust is the current Director for this area. Given her age, she may consider retirement as politics does wear you down with all the meetings that she has to attend. My guess - she'll go for another term. Ken Falloon may try & run again and become Area 'B' Director once again. Time will tell.
Area 'C' - John Massier is the current Director after getting acclaimed when the former Director Ronda Wilkins retired. He has done a really good job representing the voters' of Area 'C'. He is still "young" so I expect him to run for another term and unless I'm aware of any outstanding community issue(s), I expect him to get acclaimed.
Area 'D' - Deb Bischoff is the current Director after an election in 2008 saw her beat local Wildwood fire-fighter Blair Engel. She has been extremely busy with various initiatives all over Area 'D' including a new Community Library in McLeese Lake, sewer issues at the McLeese Lake Hall, and other issues in Area 'D'. I expect her to run and unless there is someone who thinks that they can do better than Ms. Bischoff - I expect Ms. Bischoff to either get acclaimed or easily win re-election
Area 'E' - Steve Mazur is the current Director after defeating former Area 'E' Director Brandy Dickey (daughter of WL City Councillor Sue Zacharias). He's been busy dealing with Chimney Lake water issues, water/sewer issues in Mountview area and a DVP (Development Variance Permit) issued in the Flett Subdivision. His chances of re-election are iffy. He's alienated a lot of people at Flett Subdivision over the issued DVP and that could come back and bite him in the butt next fall. I've also heard from Area 'E' residents' who are still mad over the recently-enacted Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Function. If an election does take place in Area 'E', it will be interesting to see if he survives re-election in 2011
Area 'F' - Duncan Barnett is the current Director, but has turned over day-to-day administration of Electoral Area 'F' to his Alternate Director, Joan Sorley who lives in Big Lake. She has been a good representative of Area 'F'. As most of you know, Mr. Barnett is in the throws of a 2nd lawsuit against the Cariboo Regional District relating to a in-camera motion in October of 2008. If the lawsuit is not yet done by September of 2011, it will interesting to see if Mr. Barnett offers himself up for re-election or decide to retire. My guess - he'll run for re-election and then turn things over to his Alternate Director until his lawsuit has reached a conclusion
Area 'G' - Al Richmond (present CRD Chair) is the current Director. Although he can be busy with other CRD issues or UBCM issues, he is, in my view, a great rep for Area 'G' and I fully expect he'll run again next fall and unless Herb Korenburg decides to challenge him once again, Mr. Richmond will be acclaimed for a 3 year term
Area 'H' - Art Dumaresq is the current Director. He is a good rep for Area 'H' and is the Finance Chair for the CRD Board. He was challenged in 2008, but I'm not expecting anyone to challenge Mr. Dumaresq in 2011 and should he offered himself up for re-election, I expect Mr. Dumaresq to be acclaimed for another 3 year term
Area 'I' - In typical "Glassford" family fashion, Jim Glassford is the current Director taking over from former Area I Director Mary Glassford. He's been a good rep for Area 'I' and I expect he'll run again and get acclaimed. I'm not expected a challenge to Mr. Glassford in 2011
Area 'J' - Alex Bracewell is the current Director. He's been a good rep for Area 'J', also busy with accessibility issues. I expect that Mr. Bracewell will run again and face no opposition, thereby ensuring he receive another 3 year term
Area 'K' - Rick Mumford (current CRHD/CCRHD Chair) is the current Director. As the local Hospital Board Chair, he's been busy with health care (capital) issues in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, in addition to Area 'K' issues earlier this summer (forest-fires in Alexis Creek area). I expect Mr. Mumford to run again and face no opposition for another 3 year term
Area 'L' - Bruce Rattray is the current Director after an election. He's been busy with major development in Area 'L' including the new Green Lake OCP. If Mr. Rattray decides to run again, I expect him to face little or no opposition in receiving another term, if he so chooses
The Cariboo Regional District will see few elections, otherwise the majority of current Electoral Area Directors (Areas A, C, G, H, I, J, K) will see acclamations in addition to 1 or no election for offices in the District of Wells
The District of 100 Mile House and Cities of Quesnel/Williams Lake will see active elections occurring next fall. Perhaps less so in Quesnel and 100 Mile House but expect the election in Williams Lake to be active especially with the need for a strong WL Council to be proactive on several issues in Williams Lake in the next few years
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