Pirjo Raits
Sooke News Mirror
Wendal Milne is now Sooke’s new mayor. He topped the polls beating out former councillor Dave Bennett by almost three times the number of votes.
Speaking with Milne on Sunday, as he was taking down his election signs, he said it was a “really exciting election.” He was amazed at the level of support he received and he wondered, “can we live up to the expectation?”
He said he sensed the new council would wind up looking like they were all on the same page.
The change, he said, was all about trying to build trust in the district.
He said it got to the point where people didn’t trust council and battles were created over accusations of hidden agendas.
He wants to keep taxes at near zero for a year or two and he has other initiatives he wants to implement over time. He wants agendas to be received by councillors earlier so they have the necessary time to read the material and make those important decisions. He wants more public input possibly at the Committee of the Whole meetings which too often went over the same material. He would like people to be able to come before council and talk to the issues and ask questions. He said a lot of people are expecting change and the votes reflect that.
“Voters are very perceptive,” Milne said. “I’m really happy, it was a pretty sound majority.”
Milne gathered 2,571 votes to Bennett’s 931. Others joining Milne at the council table are: Kevin Pearson, Bev Berger, Herb Haldance, Rick Kasper, Maja Tait and Kerrie Reay.
In the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Regional Director Mike Hicks managed to retain his seat against his opponent Alanda Carver.
Mike Hicks said he is “tickled” and he also liked the way the votes went in the district election.
“I’m happy with the outcome,” he said. “It’s back to business.”
He pointed to an interesting event back in 1984 when he was running federally for the Progressive Conservatives.
“Wendal bought my campaign bus,” said Hicks, “and he drove it across Canada.”
Hicks got 666 votes while Alanda Carver got 476.
“She is great,” said Hicks in reference to Carver. “She almost gave me a whoopin’. It was a tough, respectful campaign and I wish her all the best.”
Land Use Committee results: East Sooke Kara Middleton; Otter Point Heather Phillips; Port Renfrew John Wells; Shirley/Jordan River Harold Shipton; Willis Point Art Wynans. Otter Point Advisory Committee members elected are: Al Wickheim, Bud Gibbons, Sandy Sinclair, Sid Jorna, Anne Miller.
School District 62 results brings back Margot Swinburnson, 2,320 votes, along with Neil Poirier, 1,983, and Bob Phillips, 1,688, who topped the polls for Milne’s Landing beating out Allison Watson, 1,501, Terrance Martin, 1,463 and Janet Evans with 1,302 votes.
The District of Sooke had approximately 8,400 eligible voters and 3,525 of them came out to the polls to vote, representing almost 42 per cent.