The City of Colwood has a new mayor.
Rob Martin was at City Hall when he heard of his newly elected position as mayor.
“Obviously, I’m relieved and thrilled. I’m very excited about the next four years. I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.
Martin beat incumbent Carol Hamilton with approximately 57 per cent of the vote.
“During the campaign, what really resonated with the voters and with the residents was the idea that I’m going to be working very hard to bring employment to our community and the necessity of having commercial being brought into our community,” Martin said. “One of the things I did focus on during the campaign was that 93 per cent of our tax base is residential right now and that we just can’t afford that long term. We have to begin to build out some of our commercial zone. That’s what I’m going to be focusing on.”
But first, Martin plans on sitting down with every council member to discuss what their four-year vision is. Then he’ll meet with city staff. The inaugural meeting will be on Nov. 5.
Martin will be joined by councillors Doug Kobayashi (2,703 votes), Dean Jantzen (2,646), Cynthia Day (1,928), Michael Baxter (1,875), Gordie Logan (1,775) and Stewart Parkinson (1,767).
Also on the ballot were Aaron Weisgerber who earned 1,638 votes, Eve Millington (1,520), Misty Olsen (1,442), Jason Nault (1,438) and Scott McDonald (1,002).
Hamilton was disappointed with the results but didn’t think there was anything she could have done differently during the campaign. “Thanks to everybody for all working together. I wish the new council all the best.”
To the new mayor, her advice was “Get prepared to do a lot of reading.”
READ MORE: Municipal election coverage
READ MORE: Langford election results
READ MORE: View Royal election results
READ MORE: Metchosin election results
READ MORE: SD62 election results