As the local governments prepared to take a break in August, the last meeting of the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board came with the news of another director throwing their hat back in the ring for the Oct. 15 general election.
At the July 28 board meeting, Elphinstone director Donna McMahon closed her director’s report with her decision to run for re-election.
“I have been incredibly fortunate this term to be part of an outstanding team, both elected and staff, and I’ve really enjoyed the kind support of many of the residents in my area,” she said.
“Good luck in the upcoming election,” SCRD board chair Darnelda Siegers said in response.
Shortly after McMahon’s announcement, director Mark Hiltz introduced the West Howe Sound newsletter, in which he declared he will not be seeking re-election. That left one rural director’s decision to be declared: Pender Harbour/Egmont director Leonard Lee.
Then, in her Everything Elphinstone newsletter, out July 31, McMahon said Lee is also stepping up to run in the upcoming election. Lee himself wrote: "Happily, my wife Linda has given me her approval to run again as director for Pender Harbour and Egmont, so I’ll most likely throw my hat into the ring," in his The Lee Side column for the August issue of the Harbour Spiel.
In 2018, the election voted in a whole new slate for the SCRD board of directors. Of the rural directors, only Lee and McMahon have said their names will be on the ballot. Halfmoon Bay director Lori Pratt, Roberts Creek director Andreas Tize and now Hiltz have decided not to pursue a second term.
The July 28 meeting also marked Pratt’s final in-person meeting before she moves back to Alberta and serves the remainder of her term virtually.
“It's distressing to see the impact of our housing crisis on local residents, and very concerning to know how unaffordable it is for working-aged people and renters to run for office,” McMahon wrote of Pratt’s departure, in her latest newsletter.
The SCRD will be hosting a candidate information session on Aug. 10. The nomination period for the election will be Aug. 30 to Sept. 9, and candidate packages will soon be available for pick-up.
