Four more candidates for Squamish council got out of the starting gates this week, as did the first declared mayoral hopeful.
After much speculation, District of Squamish Coun. Rob Kirkham on Wednesday (Sept. 28) confirmed his intention to run for the top seat in the Nov. 19 municipal election. In a reply to a request for an interview, the first-term councilor emailed The Chief an invitation to his "campaign to elect Rob Kirkham for mayor announcement event" at the Howe Sound Inn and Brew Pub on Monday (Oct. 3).
Coun. Patricia Heintzman, meanwhile, ended speculation that she would take on Kirkham for the mayor's job, saying she'll campaign for re-election to council. Incumbent Coun. Doug Race also announced plans to run for council, as did newcomers Rob Weys and Douglas Neville.
It came down to a personal decision, Heintzman said. She felt she wouldn't have enough time for the mayor's role because of family commitments and her goal to obtain a Masters degree.
"In a lot of ways I think it was the right time, but for me personally it wasn't the right time," Heintzman said.
With six years of experience under her belt, Heintzman seeks one more term in which she said she wants to see her past efforts come to fruition - more specifically the revitalization of downtown and the Oceanfront development. There are also safety concerns, such as improving bike lanes and sidewalks, that need to be addressed, she added.
"There are still a lot of issues that I still want to be able to move forward," Heintzman said.
Race said his decision wasn't an automatic one, noting that being a councillor is no cakewalk and often involves making difficult decisions.
Race said he wants to make sure the district builds upon the progress made the 2008-'11 term. Council has accomplished a lot - with some actions that are readily apparent and others that are not so public - he said.
"This is my community," the retired lawyer said. "I want to see it flourish."
Race, who has been a Squamish resident since 1986, said he wants to continue improving relationships between the Squamish Nation and the district. Like Heintzman, Race said he also wants to see plans for the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corp.'s land move ahead, a topic that was prominent in his 2008 platform.
"The [Oceanfront project] has been one of my passions for quite a long time," Doug said.
Two newcomers to the political track announced their candidacy for council this week.
Squamish is fractured, Weys said, adding that he hopes to be one of the people elected to fix it.
The father of three sons grew up in Langley, but spent his summers fishing in Squamish. After working on sailboats around the world - the Caribbean, Hawaii and Australia - Weys moved to Squamish, the one community he's always wanted to live in, he said. That was more than a decade ago.
Last January, Weys set up an offshoot of a company he and his brother started in Langley - Haymack Autoglass - in town. Squamish has been good to him and his family, he said, and now it's time to give back.
"If you live somewhere, I think you've got to put some service back into the community," Weys said.
Squamish is at a crossroads, Weys said. Everybody has different ideas of which way it should move in terms of its growth and economy. But the community needs to look at its top priority and tackle issues one-by-one, rather than chasing many ideas, Weys said.
Transportation is one area that should be addressed, Weys said. Many residents commute to either Whistler or the North Shore for work. If those commuter routes become more viable, it will get the wheels moving on attracting more people to Squamish, followed by companies, Weys said.
"We have to market ourselves as a place to bring business," he said.
Like Weys, council candidate Douglas Neville was a frequent visitor to Squamish long before he moved here. Hiking was Neville's calling card. The father of three daughters moved with his family to Squamish about 18 months ago.
"I wanted a lifestyle change," said Neville, who previously lived in Vancouver's Commercial Drive area.
With a background in IT support, Neville set up his own company in Squamish - Coast Computer. He has hired one employee, but is still forced to travel to the Lower Mainland three to four times a week for work. That's really the catalyst behind Neville's run for office.
Neville said he plans to focus on economic development. He said he wants to help transform the town from a bedroom community into a place with enough work to sustain its residents, noting his 14-year-old daughter is having a difficult time finding a job.
The District of Squamish's economic development team is currently undertaking a study of the town's economy and Neville said he wants to make sure its outcomes are followed through. He said he wants to hear residents' concerns before finalizing his platform.
The nomination period for mayor and council, school board and regional district Area D positions is Oct. 4 to 14. Previously declared candidates for Squamish council include incumbent Bryan Raiser and newcomers Susan Chapelle, Phil Audet, Brad Hodge and Nate Dolha.
