Sechelt councillors and Mayor Cam Reid are delighted to be back in office for another term, along with newcomer Keith Thirkell.
All have specific goals for the district during the next three years, including securing a community forest licence, finishing work on the new sewer plan and revitalizing downtown Sechelt.
Reid was voted back into office Nov. 19. His former council of Warren Allan, Mike Shanks, Darren Inkster, Ed Steeves and Barry Poole were also given a vote of confidence during the election. The only new face this term is Thirkell who fills the seat left empty by Ann Kershaw.
"I am looking forward to using my artistic side and being creative in problem solving to make a positive contribution to council," Thirkell said.
Reid is anxious to sit down with council and make an action plan for the next three years.
"I know things that will be on the drawing board are improvements to our highways and sewer system. I'd also like to see council revisit the official community plans, completing the visioning of where our community wants us to go," Reid said.
Allan, who garnered more votes than any other councillor, said he felt validated by the win.
"I have always tried to vote my conscience, to vote for the community, and I can't tell you how grateful I am to the community for their votes," Allan said.
He wants to see the new sewer plan get underway this term, as well as construction on a new expanded college/university campus at Capilano College. And he wants to see a five-year probationary community forest licence awarded to the district.
Inkster said he was happy the voters chose him to serve for another term.
"I am delighted that the voters gave me an opportunity to aid in the completion of the Sechelt community aquatic centre on budget, to continue to revitalize downtown Sechelt and to finish some of the projects within our parks and open space strategy," Inkster said.
Steeves said he was happy to see all the incumbents re-elected because "we all work well together."
He plans to have the district review their sub-division policies and procedures this term.
Shanks says he wants issues around affordable housing to be front and centre at the district this term.
"Also traffic concerns and the sewer seem to be on the front burners right now," he said.
Poole said he wants to focus on downtown revitalization. "I am really, really keen on seeing downtown revitalization take place. For example, I'd like to see the project at the foot of Wharf Street finished," he said.
Thirkell agrees downtown revitalization is important and he'd like to see more of a nautical emphasis in the district to tie into the area's marine heritage.
"I have a few more ideas up my sleeve that I can't divulge yet," Thirkell said.
Sechelt Electors Association (SEA) candidates were upset at their loss, but SEA organizer Bob D'Arcy said he was proud of the candidates' showing.
"I think we did well. We captured nearly half the vote the first time out of the chute. I am very, very proud of our candidates. They looked very, very good," D'Arcy said.
Mayoral candidate Adrian Belshaw said it was clear the electorate "voted for the status quo in Sechelt."
"We offered voters a very clear alternative and they were left to decide. I'm happy that they made a very clear choice," Belshaw said.
Belshaw was regional district director for Roberts Creek for two terms before running for mayor of Sechelt. He said he's happy to have more time at home now.
"I'm looking forward to some time off. I'm going to spend more time in the garden and spend more time with friends," he said.
SEA candidate Lori Dixon just missed a council position by 17 votes and she had some insight into the loss of the entire SEA slate.
"I feel SEA was batting with three strikes against it to begin with. It was a new concept. People pull back from [new ideas] until they get to see what kind of a critter it is," she said.
D'Arcy plans to offer up new SEA candidates in the next election.
"I hope that as people get to know SEA better, they will move in that direction," he said.
