Up front: Cowichan rallies behind Ellisons after fire on heritage farm page 3 Election 2014: Two new faces elected to Duncan city council page 15
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Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Green-tinged south highlights heavy CVRD board turnover Election 2014: At least seven new faces expected to steer regional affairs for the next four years John McKinley
News Leader Pictorial
A A jubilant group of friends and supporters gathered at Jon Lefebure’s Chemainus home Saturday to celebrate his re-election as mayor of North Cowichan.
Andrew Leong
New faces could spell balanced North Cowichan council Election 2014: Conservatives and progressives say they are ready to grow their municipality in co-operative, creative ways Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
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ew and familiar faces on North Cowichan’s muchchanged council agree Saturday’s election gave them a golden chance to move the municipality forward in constructive, cooperative ways. Incumbent mayor Jon Lefebure was stoked about his new “balanced” council. It also holds poll-topping freshman Rob Douglas and newcomers Maeve Maguire
and Joyce Behnsen, plus former mayor Tom Walker, and incumbent councillors Kate Marsh and Al Siebring. “We have a mix of views right across the spectrum to help us make good decisions,” Lefebure said, after scoring his fourth mayoral seat. “Our citizens chose a progressive council, not a regressive one. They expect (council) to build our community and improve things, and look after their (tax) money carefully, wisely and in a progressive way.” Lefebure cited a “trade-off” between fresh councillors and able ones who chose not to run again. “The obvious change is experience. We lost three very strong women from council in Barb (Lines), Ruth (Hartmann), and Jen (Woike), but in return we’ll get some very bright new minds bringing their own backgrounds and creative ideas to what we do.” Some folks divided North Cowichan can-
didates into tax busters (Siebring, Behnsen, Walker) versus those more interested in services and environmental sustainability (Douglas, Marsh, Maguire). Behnsen was the sole representative elected from the tax-busting TEAM slate, but said she will be committed to being part of the new council team. “My goal is to work with anybody and everybody,” she said. Council’s makeup “tells me there are very strong groups of voters who had time to get the vote out,” said Behnsen, “compared to busy people working hard and affected by high taxes, but unfortunately they didn’t take time to get to voting stations.” She visualized a balanced approach to planned development. “We need to be a strong, green-and-clean community, but with job opportunities. We’ve got a wonderful team. more on page 5
n organic farmer. A schoolteacher at the forefront of the battle against a contaminated soil dump. An ecologist. And the former provincial Green Party candidate. Much of the pre-election rhetoric may have centred around spending and taxation, but when the dust cleared Sunday morning, a wave of environmental sensitivity had painted south Cowichan’s political landscape an obvious shade of green. “Yes, it’s really exciting,” said Mill Bay’s new director, Green Party activist Kerry Davis. “I’m really pleased with the calibre of people. There seemed to be an appetite for some new ideas. I know we can do some great things for the whole Sonia Furstenau: region. Shawnigan “The CVRD has been going in the right direction (environmentally) for a while. It will just get there a little faster with us around the table.” Combine Davis with first-time directors Matteus Clement (Cobble Hill), Sonia Furstenau (Shawnigan Lake), Alison Nicholson (Sahtlam/Glenora) and ecosensitive returning Cowichan Bay Director Lori Iannidinardo and the south end clearly made a statement. Dwight school teacher Furstenau said she was very excited with those choices and a team that can get to work on important issues like watershed protection and transparency. “The most effective place to start addressing environmental issues and climate change is at the local level,” she said. “It’s a very collaborative group. They recognize the value of positive, concrete vision and working together on implementing that vision.” Outgoing Cobble Hill Director Gerry Giles was impressed by what she considered positive, informed campaigns organized by each of the new quartet. She expects them to put a stamp on the new board with a push to protect farmland and water supplies. Giles, who elected not to run again after spending much of the past 30 years on the board, agreed it has undergone an obvious shift. more on page 5
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