Halfmoon Bay director Lori Pratt was acclaimed chair of the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board on Nov. 12, while Sechelt director Alton Toth beat out Elphinstone director Donna McMahon for vice chair.
Sechelt director Darnelda Siegers nominated Pratt for the role, as she had done in 2018 following the local government elections. Pratt said she appreciated the “continued opportunity to represent the SCRD as your chair,” following the acclamation.
Rather than pursue another term as vice chair, Siegers stepped aside, opening the door for the other Sechelt director – Alton Toth – to run.
Roberts Creek director Andreas Tize nominated Toth.
In a speech prior to the vote, Toth said he asked to be nominated because he thinks “the municipalities need to maintain a seat at the head of the table. With director Siegers wishing to step aside, it makes a lot of sense for another municipal director to put their name forward for vice chair.”
He said he has capacity, despite his business obligations and serving as Sechelt councillor. “Nothing in the world would make me want to be chair or mayor, but being adjacent to the top, I’m confident I can handle that, both the exposure as well as the increased responsibilities,” he said.
Toth faced competition from Donna McMahon, who was nominated by Pender Harbour/Egmont director Leonard Lee.
McMahon also said she had capacity to run. “I am actually one of the less over-extended people at this table,” she said in her speech, adding she wants to be more involved in upcoming discussions “about process and policy, about how the board and staff can work more efficiently, effectively, transparently and collaboratively.”
As with Toth, McMahon emphasized her limited leadership ambitions: “I feel 100 per cent certain that whoever you elect to this role will wake up every morning praying that nothing happens to Lori.”
Toth was elected vice chair in a secret ballot.
