After three long weeks campaigning, councillors and mayors up for re-election on West Shore were surely looking up at Highlands with some envy this Saturday.
Highlands was one of only 13 municipalities in British Columbia where the full council was acclaimed. They didn’t have to bang on doors or hammer in lawn signs to hang onto their jobs.
Not that it’s a bad thing for our elected representatives to make the rounds re-connecting with the people whose tax dollars they manage. We were glad to see a political powerhouse such as Langford Mayor Stew Young face some competition for once.
True, Young was up against a tree-sitter who himself admitted he had little hope of unseating the man who’s run Langford since incorporation. Still, it gave about 500 voters a way to show they aren’t satisfied with the status quo.
Despite the effort of some enthusiastic candidates, all Langford’s incumbent councillors were also re-elected by at least 400 votes.
The same scenario played out in Metchosin, with the full council retaining their seats with little trouble.
In View Royal, Graham Hill had competition for the first time since he was elected in 2002. And he proved he had more support than the two candidates running against him combined.
Coun. Andrew Britton took a risk challenging the popular mayor, and he lost his council seat in the process. Ron Mattison, a former councillor, will take Britton’s place alongside the three incumbent councillors.
Colwood was where the real action was. I think everyone’s jaw was hanging open when they saw five-term Coun. Ernie Robertson lose his seat.
He was part of an unofficial slate of six candidates who took aim at City staff, calling them overpaid and underworked. Only one member of the slate — a council newcomer — was voted in.
There are now three new councillors and a new mayor in Colwood. We hope this new mix will get along better than the current group.
A strong council is vital to the wellbeing of any community. We look forward to seeing all our elected representatives, new and old, in action.