Election night is a display of the power of voters to transform lives and communities. And there’s no doubt that voters here were seeking strong leadership with courage and consensus-building skills to transport Squamish into its promising future.
Squamish people chose to oust the current mayor and replace him with another leader, Patricia Heintzman, who promises a different style of leadership and community. She says she’s hoping to engage the community in discussions. “I think people are looking for a different style of government,” she commented, surrounded by her excited supporters Saturday night.
The decision surprised many, because outgoing Mayor Rob Kirkham had a solid record of achievement. His work to help make the gondola a reality and to move forward on the oceanfront project earned him respect and recognition. Clearly, the voters were looking for fresh people to lead Squamish into the future, leaving qualified politicians like Kirkham and councillor Bryan Raiser behind.
It appears they were also looking for leaders with the courage to listen and carefully consider the proposed Woodfibre liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant. They were looking for councillors who will investigate further.
The people overwhelmingly decided to give newcomers Jason Blackman-Wulff, Peter Kent and Karen Elliott a chance to be major players in Squamish. The fact that Blackman-Wulff earned the second highest number of votes overall, at 2,315 votes, indicates an appetite for change. Blackman-Wulff had been pinpointed by observers as a promising candidate, but his strong showing in the polls came as a surprise even to people who closely watch the local political scene. If he can translate his support into leadership on council, there’s no doubt that his future in politics will be bright.
Elliott made an impact during her campaign as a professional with a bright outlook. And Peter Kent’s victory was no surprise. The former Hollywood stuntman garnered national attention with his promise to set himself on fire if the voter turnout was higher than in the previous election. His promise and voter concern over other issues such as LNG did in fact fire up the electorate.
Whether or not you are pleased with the outcome of the Nov. 15 election, one thing is certain: In a democracy, the voters are always right. Congratulations to everyone who ran. It takes courage to put your name forward in a passionate community like Squamish.
