In the aftermath of the May 14 B.C. election, 12 newly elected Members of Legislative Assembly faced what many are calling a tough decision: give up their jobs as mayors or municipal councillors and force a (sometimes costly) by-election, or try to do both jobs.
To this writer, though, the decision shouldn't be difficult at all. The only question, really, should be whether the remaining members of those councils should carry on without the new MLAs or go back to the electorate for a replacement.
Sure, there's no law or rule that prevents someone from serving both as MLA and, say, mayor of Pemberton. And while being the mayor of Pemberton is a part-time job, an MLA's job is full-time -or at least the approximate $100,000-a-year salary would seem to indicate it is. On the other hand, if there's anyone who could probably pull off doing both for the next 15 or 16 months, it's newly elected West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy. He has, after all, managed to juggle the Pemberton mayor's role (which includes a regular seat on the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District board) with running a business (North Arm Farm) and, we're told, doing a bit of ski patrolling on the side.
The real issue here is, of course, that now that he's been elected to represent us in Victoria, Mr. Sturdy's energies should no longer be spent just in Pemberton. Oh, sure, it might help grease the skids when it comes time for the community's mayor to speak to the MLA about, say, funding for flood protection or that long-sought village boundary expansion. All he has to do is change hats, disguise his voice and play musical chairs on opposite sides of the same table.
Sturdy and the 11 other new MLAs knew full well when they sought their parties' nominations that these sorts of situations might be the result. One such new MLA, Surrey-Panorama's Marvin Hunt, said before the election he planned to do both jobs but donate his Surrey council pay to charity. But it isn't about the money, really. It's mostly about the divided loyalties. We simply don't think Jordan Sturdy or anyone else can continue to serve local constituents effectively if he or she is sworn to serve the riding as a whole.
-David Burke
