Candidates are beginning to throw their hats into the race to become Nanaimo’s newest city councillor.
Sheryl Armstrong, Fred Statham and Al Thompson have announced plans to campaign for votes in the upcoming byelection July 8 when the public will choose a city councillor to fill a vacant seat left after the resignation of Coun. Wendy Pratt.
It’s the second byelection in six years, following one in 2011 where 10.1 per cent of voters turned out to elect former city coun. Ted Greves. The City of Nanaimo is now accepting nomination packages for candidates, with plans to declare candidates after 4 p.m. June 2.
Armstrong retired as an RCMP sergeant in Nanaimo last year after a 35-year career. She’ll run, believing it’s her chance to make a change. She said she’s always had an interest in politics, but it was the event centre that upset her.
“I thought this council is so out of touch with what this community wants and having watched council the past few years … I just think that they forget that they’re there to serve the community, not the other way around,” she said.
She also says there’s a lack of representation of women on council now.
Armstrong’s priorities include infrastructure and fiscal responsibility.
“Like why are we having consultants every time we turn around?” asked Armstrong, who’s heard the problem is there’s not the staff at the city anymore and she questions why that happened and how to change it.
Armstrong’s experience with the RCMP has seen her work with all levels of government and create a First Nations policing unit. She’s also trained in conflict resolution and inter-space negotiation.
“I’ve watched council for quite a long time. I think that they need to get respect back for each other’s opinions. The way they treat each other, to me, is not acceptable,” she said, telling the News Bulletin there’s a need to go back to Robert’s Rules of conducting business.
Statham, who also announced his candidacy, is a former Powell River school trustee from 1996-99 and was involved in setting up a food bank and kitchen in Watson Lake, where he also ran for mayor in 2012. He said he now volunteers at Loaves and Fishes and is a community support worker.
Teamwork is his strongest skill, said Statham, who also says he has liaison and mediator skills. That’s not to say he’ll be a referee on council, but more a mediator, he said, adding he believes what’s needed is collaboration, consultation and liaising.
“You need all those things to be a strong team anyway,” said Statham, who’s running to get more honesty, accountability and transparency at city hall.
He’s calling his bid the “grand campaign” because he’s running for his grandchildren.
“I want Nanaimo to be a very healthy and prosperous city for my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren,” he said.
He’s been pleased with the momentum of affordable housing projects and if he wins the election, would like to see it continue.
Thompson ran for mayor in the last general election.
“Why wouldn’t I [run for councillor]? This town needs help. I am a catalyst for change,” he said.
He hopes to bring a common-sense approach. On council there seems to be “this group and that group” but he’s not a groupie, he said.
Thompson has been a trucker, a business man and entrepreneur.
“People say, ‘well what do you know about running a $300-million business?’ Well, running a $300-million business is exactly the same as running a household budget. You got this much money to spend and that’s all you can spend,” he said.
He says he wants to get people back to work and quit spending money on “stupid things.”
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