More than two dozen candidates threw their hats into the ring in the recent municipal election. Seven emerged victorious. What stars aligned in their favour to seal the deal?
Let’s start with Karen Elliott. She garnered a reputation as an articulate, level-headed councillor who was not easily rattled riding the Squamish political roller coaster. Although she had her share of detractors as the campaign progressed, her experience, firm grasp of major issues and background as a mediator, shoehorned her into the mayor’s chair.
Doug Race is embarking on his fourth term at muni hall, after securing more votes than any other candidate. In addition to that deep well of experience, he has an unmatched acquaintance with the inner workings of local government and had a solid performance on the campaign trail. Given that stellar resumé, many voters looked to him to provide leadership on a rookie laden council.
Jenna Stoner, who collected the second largest number of votes, is a self-proclaimed “data nerd and policy geek.” Armed with a bachelor of science and a master of marine management degree, a cutting edge website and well-honed communication skills, voters saw her as a candidate who is capable of connecting the academic with the practical. Her volunteer work with the Squamish Climate Action Network added supplementary credibility to her council bid.
Long time Squamish resident John French benefited from years of significant community exposure. He is best known for his columns and reporting in The Chief and stints at Mountain FM. Over the years, he has been affiliated with a variety of local causes and associations, including Crime Stoppers, the Test of Metal and the Squamish Triathlon. A stint as community relations manager for Woodfibre LNG may have cost him some support but it certainly didn’t scuttle his chances of getting elected. Many voters were drawn to his clearly outlined platform and the ability to articulate that agenda.
Armand Hurford has familiar Squamish roots dating back to his grandparents, forestry pioneer Vic Hurford, and his wife, Myrtle, who was the first full-time telephone operator in town. For a number of years he has been an MC at the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival and he is the proprietor of Republic Bicycles, a successful business venture in Brackendale. That noteworthy background, coupled with a commonsense platform, attracted considerable attention to his camp.
Chris Pettingill has gone out of his way to advance the information technology, tourism and arts sectors. He is a former chair of the Squamish Chamber of Commerce and has been a member of numerous boards. He recently joined a local tech start-up in an engineering capacity. Along with those affiliations and networking forays, a convincing presence on the campaign trail helped him to connect with a broad range of constituents.
To finish, for Eric Andersen it was three strikes and you’re in. After two previous failed attempts at a council seat, he finally made the cut. His networking skills, coupled with an encyclopaedic grasp of municipal proclamations and directives, were stepping stones to success. Add to that an energetic presence on the hustings and the coveted political prize that eluded him for nearly a decade was his for the taking.
