WestShore Chamber of Commerce Candidate Bios
Posted by Cheryl McLachlan on October 22, 2008
The WestShore Chamber of Commerce has their 2008 Municipal Elections Website up.
The aim of this site is to provide the West Shore community with information on all people standing for election in the upcoming municipal elections and those for school board trustees. We will be updating this site on a regular basis.
– WestShore Chamber of Commerce
Remember November, November 15th, get informed and please do vote.
- email the moderator here – Cheryl McLachlan -
Jack Bev said
Remember:
Vote early and vote often! ;-)
Lisa said
I see that some of the candidates do not have information in their bios on the Chamber of Commerce website. I assume those candidates missed the deadline and there will be no bio on them.
If the missing bios are going to appear at a later date because the candidates have yet to submit them, I think that is unfair to those candidates that have their bios posted. It gives an advantage to those candidates that haven’t posted because they can see what the other candidates have written and amend their bio accordingly.
I would like to know if candidates missed the deadline or if the Chamber of Commerce has (accidently) giving some candidates an advantage. Does anyone know the answer?
Steven Hurdle said
When the Chamber of Commerce site first went up, most candidates (fewer than 1/3, including none of the incumbents in some municipalities) had bios up, so they appear to be adding them over time as they get more. I believe today was the original deadline, so they appear to have felt they had enough content to put it up early. I would hope most would be in today and up sometime tomorrow.
Cheryl McLachlan said
The Chamber of Commerce 2008 Municipal Elections website notes they, “will be updating this site on a regular basis,” so hopefully there will be many more candidates added soon. And in the newly organized website, under City of Langford it says:
And at the bottom of the page, where the candidates are listed, is a box that says:
Pat said
I would suspect the incumbent councilors bio’s are extremely detailed, filled with all of the wonderful and amazing accomplishments over the years. Maybe there still writing them?
Don MacKie said
Checked out bios on both sites, Chamber and Langford, that site only got current council. Chamber has a few of the current councillor bios but none for Seaton and Szpak. Reading all that is there on both sites it seems like serving on the council and committees that are part of the job as a councillor is about all those guys do, so those old councillors would be a shoe-in if that was all it was about – but i kinda thought doing more in your town than just doing that councillor job was what being a good councillor is about. How does serving on some committees and council mean you know what people who live here are thinking or worryin about? I never thought having the job already was the best qualification for getting to keep the job.
Some of those new people running sounds llike they got some real experience too, just ain’t having already got to do the job, can’t hold that against them.
Paul said
Previous Quote
“I never thought having the job already was the best qualification for getting to keep the job”.
I Agree. But what if the employee is doing a great job? Would you fire an employee that was doing agood job because someone new, less experenced wanted the job.
I wouldn’t.
Pat said
This election is not about what kind of qualifications the incumbents have or what kind of job they have done. Langford has become a successful powerful city that is being recognized across Canada for its achievements. This election is about political opportunity. How else can you explain the sudden organized influx of candidates? Where were all these candidates 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 years ago when the work had to be done? In reality no one can complain about the job that has been done, we all know this. So what do you do? You have to plan in advance, create an issue and scare the public, all done to a tee. Is right, no, is it fair, no, is it politics, yes. Will the people bite? We’ll see.
Lisa said
I would fire an employee that often doesn’t show up for work. I believe some of the current council have poor attendence. The council meetings are about an hour long, every other week, so it should not be difficult to show up and do the job. Missing a meeting once in awhile is ok because of other responsibilities. But why are they being paid from our tax dollars if they are missing many meetings and not showing up to do the job?
I think if someone is absent from work more than 10% of the time they should be fired, unless there’s some legitimate circumstances. Think about it in your own work environment…absent 10% of the time means you are not at work one day every two weeks. That means you would have about 25 days…almost a full month…away from work during the year.
Lisa said
If people are looking for some information about new candidate Vick Siu, there is an article on him in today’s Times Colonist about him running in Langford and Colwood. http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=f20110d2-624a-4de1-8cce-70780731b256
Shelly said
Until now I have been a reader not a poster, but the previous comment was so inaccurate I decided to put in my first post.
I would check my facts before I started suggesting councilors of putting in only an hour a week, or poor attendance. In reality it is quite the opposite, these councilors put in many, many hours a week working for our community, and if you worked out what they actually cost the tax payer, you would be giving them all a big raise and not firing them, as you suggest. To say that all that is involved is “showing up for a one hour meeting” shows a real lack of understanding. Do you think that anything would get done around here if that were true? I would recommend getting more informed before you vote.
Cheryl McLachlan said
Thought I would pass this along this email I received from Mike Wicks at the Chamber of Commerce:
Paul said
Not showing up to do the Job!? You have no idea how much work these councillors and the Mayor do. You think because you don’t see them at a meeting they are not doing their job. I am here to tell you that they don’t stop working. If you calculated hours spent for pay it is probably less than minimum wage. This is not a well paid job for any of them.
Pat said
1. In Response to: “I would fire an employee that often doesn’t show up for work. I believe some of the current council have poor attendance. The council meetings are about an hour long, every other week, so it should not be difficult to show up and do the job.”
The writer of this statement does not understand the work that goes into being a Langford Councilor. Being a Langford Councilor means just the opposite, they give up a lot of their personal lives so that we the citizens can have the beautiful community that we do. Fortunately the majority of residents know how hard they work and truly appreciate it. I hope that the new candidates are a little more informed and are not expecting to show up every other week for “about an hour”.
Ryan Hinton said
Here are the absentee rates of the current council for Regular Council meetings, since the last election.
Blackwell 11%
Goudy 26%
Sahlstrom 7%
Seaton 28%
Sifert 11%
Szpak 7%
Pat said
It is sad to see that some people can only focus on the negative. What is even sadder is to see someone, who has done “nothing” in our community, throw stones at the ones who have. I did my own chart:
Effort and Results:
Blackwell 100%
Goudy 100%
Sahlstrom 100%
Seaton 100%
Sifert 100%
Szpak 100%
TJ said
I have attempted to post several times and never seem to quite make it on the website but here goes… councillors read agendas, drive by sites, look at developments, look at parking concerns, answer phone calls from citizens. Many of the councillors sit on many committees. A perfect recent example is that Mayor Young called for volunteers with regard to the Industry Canada towers that seem to be popping up around both Langford and Colwood. Two councillors and several other volunteers immediately stepped forward. Councillors also attend openings of City Center parks, libraries etc. It’s not as if its’ an hour long job every two weeks. Please also keep in mind that they only get paid a few thousand a year. It’s not a lot of money.
Heather Scott said
I am continually surprised to hear people complaining about how negative others are, and yet they frequently seem to be the most negative of all. I’d like to add, I appreciate the stats on councillor attendance being added to the discussion, and I do not see how quoting numbers is throwing stones. I do get that councilors have other things to do, but I for one would also like to see them attend council meetings regularly too.
Oh, and do councilors really only get a few thousand a year? What exactly do councilors get paid?
Don MacKie said
There are statistics that come from something real, like who attended what meetings and how often. And there’d be those sorta statistics that do not say anything eccept an opinion based on how someone feels that got nothing to do with numbers or math, just prettied up to look like it does. Lots of media even uses silly sentences like, “gave 110%” covering sports and stuff, which is physically impossible – 100% is giving up everything you got. I think some people feel the current council works hard, maybe they do when they show up – don’t know, but even if they did show up to all the council meetings and do lots of work, which they don’t, it is impossible for them to give 100% effort since I hope they got family and a job and do stuff in their lives and do something about all that. Sometimes numbers mean something real, sometimes they don’t – depends on where those numbers came from.
Cheryl McLachlan said
Most of the candidate bios for Langford Council are up on the West Shore Chamber of Commerce website, with the exception of:
Harry Kuiack,
Lanny Seaton – incumbent,
Vick Siu,
Roger Wade.
I hope they have some info. up before the All-Candidates meeting Tuesday evening, Oct. 28th, Masonic Lodge at 679 Goldstream Ave., 7-8:30 pm.
Teresa Ackroyd said
It is ironic to me how so much change has happened in our community since incorporation, and how many people are very happy with all this change, yet they are fearful of change on council. Once again, it is my opinion that while we need to remember what has been accomplished in these past years, we also need to remember what COULD have been accomplished and what decisions were made for one type of community outcome over another. I suppose that if since incorporation our community had not changed at all significantly from ‘dogpatch’ (god I love that phrase) then myself and others would be the ones digging our heels in for the status quo, arguing the wonderful efforts made by council on our behalf. Some of us actually liked the ‘undeveloped’ character of old Langford and prefer not to live in manufactured neighbourhoods but prefer evolving ones.
john said
After attending the All Candidates meeting last night I was tremendously encouraged by the quoted concrete improvements that have occurred in Langford under the leadership of Mayor Stu Young and his Council. Since incorporation 16 years ago:
Parkland has been increased by 400%!
Roughly 20km of pedestrian and 16km of dedicated bike trails have been constructed for public use – an amenity that my wife and I take advantage of almost every weekend while pushing a stroller and herding a toddler.
There has been a 52% increase in employment and Langford now boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the whole of Canada – under 3%!
The affordable housing program is possibly the most innovative affordable housing program in Canada – where else can a family purchase a free standing fee simple house for 40% of the market rate?
Do you realise we have a FREE trolley service in Langford presently used by thousands of residents?
And as for the Spencer road interchange – - I’m encouraged that the present Council had the valour to make the decision to proceed; they worked closely with members of the community to facilitate a deal that provides millions of dollars of infrastructure to the residents – present and future – of Langford and greater Victoria at no cost to those residents. A bold decision that will provide for a safer community with respect to the emergency services; efficient road systems and fiscal responsibility while looking and planning ahead for the future.
After last nights meeting at which all the candidates had the opportunity to present their platform it was made clear – to me anyway – that the Slate of new candidates had nothing to offer this community that the present council had not either already implemented or have lead the charge to implement. (One example is the C4CR group – started by Langford, that is advocating for implementing a cost effective Commuter Rail service using the under utilised E & N line. C4CR has representation by the communities of View Royal, Esquimalt, Victoria, Colwood and Sooke and the CRD. Other groups around the table include the ICF, large developments along the rail line or that would benefit by having a commuter line running, BC Transit have been involved.)
The point is Langford is once again leading the pack with respect to engaging other communities and other levels of government to make it happen.
In these uncertain economic times it seems prudent to strongly consider the track records and those proposing to offer leadership to our community. The opposition slate presented last night was underwhelming to say the least. Let’s keep improving Langford for the majority of people – Keep up the good work Council. Thanks to the Westshore Chamber for providing the opportunity to see the light
Stan Bower said
I have read Inside Langford from January of this year. As I said in my last comment, sometimes I agree with the articles and comments, sometimes I do not. I comment only every now and then, and when I do I hope I am always civil and I try to be open minded. I have been interested in the discussion about whether democracy is alive and well in Langford or on life support.
I received this from a friend in my e-mail today. If this is the way democracy works in Langford, then I am no longer an undecided voter, consider me a vote for something new as this is totally unacceptable to me. No discussion as they whip through bylaw after bylaw (or was the discussion in secret beforehand for all this stuff, so that voters do not get to know how they are being represented?). The mayor not even looking up to count the votes? Don’t take the word of the challengers for it that we need more democracy, don’t take the word of fans of the current council for it that everything is fine, see for yourself.
Teresa Ackroyd said
Unfortunately for me, the current economic uncertainty makes me more uneasy about the unorthodox funding formula undertaken on our behalf. With all the news of large projects on hold or completely halted, I worry how this debt will impact my future and my kids futures. After all, land is only worth what someone will pay for it.
Again, it is the process that some people have difficulty with, and I don’t believe the end justifies the means in all circumstances. The current council does not IMO give all concerned parties an even hearing.
Pat said
We all worry about our kid’s future, I too want to make sure there are more parks, more trails, employment opportunities, innovative affordable housing options, free transportation options, a light rail transit system, low taxes, protected ALR lands, sustainable development all which are already in place or being done today by our current council. All you have to do is open your eyes and read the papers and tour our community, we have new libraries, parks, trails, all weather field, arenas, bowling alley, new commercial areas, and all of it with a 1% tax decrease in 2008. There is no where else in this region where you can compare the results that have been achieved in Langford. Every day I go out and speak to families and business and I rarely find someone who is not happy with the job our Councilors have done, unfortunately the only place I find unhappy people is here on this website.
Teresa Ackroyd said
Having a voice in the community far outweighs any other ‘amenity’, having the perception of being listened to and considered, even if a decision is made opposing my opinion, is very precious. Flower baskets on Goldstream do not outweigh paving a wetland to sell more useless stuff. Taking my kids to an indoor play area because there are no natural places to ramble, getting recognition for approving cutting edge green building technology, then approving siting of these building projects in the middle of nowhere is not a good tradeoff. Watching all these improvements be squandered in neglect because we are servicing a huge debt, when the collateral is devalued, is scary.
R.J. said
democracy
• noun (pl. democracies) 1 a form of government in which the people have a voice in the exercise of power, typically through elected representatives.
On November 15, 2008 the peoples’ voice will be heard whether you are for this current council or not. The real question that arises as we head towards the municipal elections is what will the voter turn out be?
If we believe in Democracy it is our responsibility to ensure that the numbers reflect the real majority. 25% voter turn out is not an accurate reflection of our community.
Best wishes to all the candidates and thank-you inside Langford for keeping the community informed.
Herman Surkis said
I completely agree with calls to work towards that goal.
Lets ALL, incumbent and new candidates encourage a large voter turn out.
A 75% turnout (I can dream, can’t I) would be democratic process, no matter what the results.
Ryan Hinton said
I absolutely agree that voter turnout needs to be higher. To help increase voter turnout and to support local charities, I issued the following press release today:
Ryan Hinton, a candidate for Langford Council, is focused on increasing voter turnout in the upcoming municipal elections. To encourage eligible voters to cast a ballot, Hinton will donate funds to a local charity, based on the percentage of voter turnout in Langford.
For every percentile that votes, Hinton will donate $10 to the Goldstream Food Bank Society. Therefore, if voter turnout in Langford is 20%, Hinton will donate $200. Hinton will donate $1000, if there is 100% turnout. Hinton is hoping to write a cheque to the Goldstream Food Bank Society for a minimum of $500.
Hinton is challenging every municipal candidate in the Capital Regional District to make a similar promise. Hinton is asking each candidate to choose a local charity of their choice to donate the funds to. The donation should be $10 per percentile that votes in the municipality where the candidate is running. With approximately 250 candidates, the resulting donations to local charities will be significant.
This initiative will increase democracy at the local level and provide additional needed financing to local charities.
Evan said
Very Nice thought but you may be in contravention of Election laws. You are a candidate and undoubtedly one of the voters that votes for you will benefit from the charity you donated to. It may be considered buying a vote. Starbucks have just run into that in the US and Starbucks aren’t even running!
It should be checked on.
Ken said
Another thought on Hinton’s plan,
This is from the Criminal Code:
Influencing or negotiating appointments or dealing in offices
125. Every one who
(a) receives, agrees to receive, gives or procures to be given, directly or indirectly, a reward, advantage or benefit of any kind as consideration for cooperation, assistance or exercise of influence to secure the appointment of any person to an office,
(b) solicits, recommends or negotiates in any manner with respect to an appointment to or resignation from an office, in expectation of a direct or indirect reward, advantage or benefit, or
(c) keeps without lawful authority, the proof of which lies on him, a place for transacting or negotiating any business relating to
(i) the filling of vacancies in offices,
(ii) the sale or purchase of offices, or
(iii) appointments to or resignations from offices,
is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.
Hard to be on council if you were serving time,
Ryan Hinton said
Although my only intentions were to encourage people to vote and to support a local charity, after speaking with an election official, my intentions could be interpreted a different way. Therefore, I will not be making a charitable donation based on voter turnout.
Shelly said
We personally have invited the mayor and each councilors to come to our neighbourhood for a tour and visit with local residents to hear our concerns about proposed developments, twice in the past 3 years. The last time we sent these invitations by Canada Post and to each of their listed email addresses on the Langford website. We have never received a reply. Even a negative one would have been appreciated. I don’t think this is appropriate from my elected representatives.
Perhaps if we were proposing to clearcut a forest, build or pave over most of the land and give the city a bunch of amenity money, they would reply.