SAANICH NEWS
By Erin Cardone - Saanich News
August 28, 2008 5:00 PM
Saanich is heading into a game of musical chairs with voters in control of the music.
At least 10 people are vying for eight spots on Saanich council, and two are in the race for the single mayor's seat.
Incumbent councillors Susan Brice, Judy Brownoff, Vic Derman, Vicki Sanders and Leif Wergeland will have their names on the ballot when voters head to polling stations across Nov. 15.
Coun. Jackie Ngai said she will decide whether to run for re-election at the end of September. Add to the mix a handful of council-hopefuls -- Patrick Chénier, Deborah Dickson, Paul Gerrard, Dean Murdock and Lana Popham -- and voters look to have a number of options this year.
Mayor Frank Leonard long ago announced he will seek re-election. In June, the Saanich News learned Harald Wolf will challenge Leonard, a fixture in local politics for more than two decades.
Current councillor Bob Gillespie will not run in the 2008 municipal election.
Following an apathetic 19 per cent voter turnout at the 2005 elections, the newly formed Saanich Civic League is canvassing residents to get out on election day and make their mark.
"Municipal is the level of governance that most directly affects our daily lives, in ways far more significant than mere potholes and paving," said Sher Morgan, chair of the Civic League. " Municipal is also the level where one person's vote has the most impact, proportionally much more weight than in a federal or provincial election."
Especially, Morgan said, in the case of the 2005 election. With so few voters, each single vote carried more weight than in previous elections.
In addition, the municipal election acts as a regional one. Five Saanich councillors will be appointed to seats on the Capital Regional District board.
"Saanich has five of 23 CRD seats, more than any other municipality, which gives us, as Saanich residents, tremendous opportunity to influence the future of this region through whom we choose to elect locally," Morgan said.
While several council and mayoral hopefuls have declared their intent to run in the election, the candidacy period hasn't officially started.
The race begins in earnest after Tuesday, Sept. 30. To get on the ballot, each candidate must provide at least 10 nomination forms. They're available starting Sept. 2 from Legislative Services at Saanich municipal hall. That candidacy period ends Friday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m.
