An announcement: I’ve decided to run in the fall to be Mayor of Esquimalt.
Esquimalt is a special place. Over the past four years on Council, I’ve worked hard to move forward on specific issues in a practical and thoughtful way, and I’ve become convinced that Esquimalt needs a clear vision for where we’re headed over the next decade.
Esquimalt has changed a lot in the last decade. We need to manage that change carefully: protecting what people love about this community while also addressing affordability, infrastructure renewal, and the financial pressures facing residents.
At the same time, we need to make sure we don’t lose what makes Esquimalt special: our strong sense of community, our welcoming nature, our diversity, and our willingness to help each other. We need to make sure growth creates opportunities for new residents while ensuring long-time and vulnerable residents are not left behind.
We’re facing some significant challenges, from aging pipes, roads, and facilities to major provincial housing policy changes and the pressures that come with growth in a small municipality.
In particular, I want to focus next term on three priorities: continuing to expand housing options, with a greater focus and attention on affordable housing; improving how people move around Esquimalt, whether by transit, walking, cycling or by car; and ensuring the Township remains financially sustainable and affordable for residents.
I believe Esquimalt needs a clear vision for where we’re going as a community, what we want Esquimalt to look like in 5, 10, and 25 years, and how we’ll support and pay for the services residents rely on. A key role of the Mayor is helping residents understand why decisions are made, and how they fit into the overall vision. Residents have been asked to make significant investments in infrastructure and services. They deserve a clear understanding of why those investments are being made, what they’re intended to achieve, and how we’ll measure success.
Esquimalt also needs to continue working closely with our neighbouring First Nations, our regional partners, neighbouring municipalities, and other organizations across the region. My work on regional boards has shown me how much we can accomplish when we work together, while still maintaining Esquimalt’s unique identity.
Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing more detailed ideas and priorities for the next term. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to talking with residents across Esquimalt about what they want to see over the next four years.
As always, feel free to reach out.