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Editorial: For the people, all the people

Councillors and mayors should remember who they are working for

The current District of Sooke council has been warming the seats in the council chambers for almost a year-and-a-half. The councillors are split between those who are new to council and those who are not.

With most deliberations, it would appear that the answers are obvious providing all the  proper procedures have been followed. There are guidelines in place for most everything. Where council could do better is with those appeals for funds/grants/line items. Council cannot please everyone not should they jump so hard to try. If a organization cannot follow the grant guidelines, then they should not receive funding. It’s the same if some developer doesn’t follow the bylaws, their application should be rejected. Council needs to set their priorities and not waver (except under exceptional circumstances). The budget is set and so it should remain, otherwise what’s the point of the whole complicated, long and tedious exercise.

Council is not in the business of pleasing special interest groups, developers or organizations. They are in the business of doing what is best for the entire community and taking care of the public purse. We all know each councillor and the mayor were elected by those who believed in their election platforms. Regardless of who sides with who, their job is to Sooke and the residents. Council is supposed to be our watchdog, and they need to look out for the whole community — not just their friends, acquaintances or business associates. Public service is difficult and often thankless, but that’s what each member of council signed up for.