A new group For A Better Sechelt (FABS) has formed not to endorse a slate of candidates, but to ensure members of the old Sechelt council don't get re-elected Nov. 19.
"Our first mandate is we'd like to see a major change in the existing council and mayor, so it's pretty clear that we have a special interest. It's to see five to seven new individuals on council," FABS member Lance Sparling said to a packed audience at the Sechelt Legion Wednesday night.
More than 200 people came to the Legion Sept. 28 to find out what the newly created FABS group was all about and hear some Sechelt candidates for mayor and councillor speak.
While FABS did allow four councillor candidates, three mayoralty candidates and one school trustee candidate to speak at the event, they are not endorsing a slate of candidates at this time. Instead they plan to educate the public as to why some on the current Sechelt council should not be re-elected.
"Our campaign is one of information," said Sparling. "What we've discovered in a lot of these municipal elections is that most people don't know what's going on at council. Most people don't know what decisions have been made. Most people don't have a clue what's actually gone on at the District of Sechelt. So our role is to, over a seven-week campaign, roll out what we believe has happened as a group and why we believe there should be a change."
Over the course of the next seven weeks however, FABS members noted they may find candidates who fit within their values and they may decide to endorse one or more of those candidates.
"What I think I hear you saying is you're looking for a collective value statement that we can buy into that opens the doors of Sechelt as far as businesses go, as far as youth goes. So you're looking at a broader perspective of individuals until it comes to the time that those people slot into what you're looking for," said Maureen Clayton who was in the audience, to a resounding "yes" from the FABS group.
The FABS values include a sustainable economic plan for Sechelt, effective, efficient and collaborative leadership and decisions that are solutions based, sustainable and embrace the entrepreneurial spirit of Sechelt.
While FABS will be running a specific campaign for a change on Sechelt council, they plan to also work hard to raise the voter turnout this year from the 38 per cent that voted in the last election to a 50 per cent or more showing at the polls this year.
"Our main platform is to get out the vote on Nov. 19 and we'll need your assistance with that. Tell your neighbours, tell your friends. This is important. These issues affect all of us," said FABS member Christine Stefanik, adding the group hopes to set up an office where residents can get informed about the voting process.
At the end of the meeting FABS gave Sechelt candidates in attendance the chance to introduce themselves with a two-minute speech.
Ed Steeves, John Henderson and Doug Smith spoke about why they should become the next mayor of Sechelt, while Anita Paulin, Chris Moore, Darnelda Siegers and Doug Hockley made a pitch for council.
School trustee Erin Brooks also made a short speech.
To find out more about FABS go to www.forabettersechelt.com or email forabettersech [email protected]. The group expects their website to be on-line today, Sept. 30.
