12 candidates put name forward for Colwood mayor, councillor election

12 candidates put name forward for Colwood mayor, councillor election
CHEK

In Colwood, two people are running for the mayor’s seat and 10 are running to be councillors in this year’s election.

Colwood voters will get the chance to vote for the mayor, six councillors, and Sooke School District trustee positions in the Belmont Zone.

The general voting day will take place on Oct. 15, with advance voting on Oct. 5 and 12. Voting hours on all three days are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will take place at Colwood City Hall.

In the 2018 election, Colwood had a voter turnout of 31.5 per cent, with 4,089 people voting.

Two mayoral candidates

The two candidates for mayor are incumbent Mayor Rob Martin, and current Councillor Doug Kobayashi.

Doug Kobayashi

Kobayashi was first elected in 2018, and says residents raising concerns about the city’s handling of the environment, transportation, and housing to healthcare and how the city is being governed spurred him to put his name forward to run for mayor.

Kobayashi says his priorities are building a healthy community with vibrant neighbourhoods, attracting good jobs and employers, well-managed core services, investing in a healthy natural environment, and social programs and places.

Kobayashi previously served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and has a master in aeronautical engineering.

In the 2018 election, Kobayashi received the most votes of council candidates with 2,703 votes.

Kobayashi’s website can be found here.

Rob Martin

Martin was first elected as a councillor in 2011, then elected as mayor in 2018.

He has served as chair of the Te’mexw Treaty Advisory Committee, vice-chair of the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Asssociation and CRD Planning and Protective Services committee and served as a director on a number of other committees.

Martin says his plan is being fiscally responsible, keeping an open ear to residents, building a community, improving the economy, supporting environmental assets, and investing in transportation and attainable housing.

Martin received 2,348 votes in the 2018 municipal election.

Martin’s website can be found here.

10 candidates for six councillor positions

Cynthia Day, Dean Jantzen, and Stewart Parkinson are incumbent councillors seeking re-election.

David Grove, Kim Jordison, Steven MacAskill, Kim Mohns, Misty Olsen, and Sacha Veelbehr, Ian Ward.

Two councillors are not seeking re-election, meaning there will be at least two new faces at the council table.

You can click on a council candidates name above to bring you to their section on this page.

Cynthia Day

In the 2018 election, Day received the third most votes of council candidates with 1,928.

CHEK News has not heard back from Day. If information becomes available the story will be updated with information about her and her campaign.

David Grove

Grove was the owner of Royal Bay Bakery for 22 years and lived with his wife Gwen and raised his two sons Julian and Tim in the city.

His priorities as investing in health through quality of life services, finding balanced solutions for homes for people in the community, investing in ways for the community to grow food, and keeping an open mind to good ideas.

Grove’s website can be found here.

Dean Jantzen

Jantzen was first elected to Colwood council in 2018, and has served as a police officer for 26 years. Before that he worked in corrections, served in the armed forces, and trained as a pilot.

His priorities are community safety, addressing housing, and investing in infrastructure improvements.

In 2018, Jantzen received the second most votes, with 2,646 voting for him.

Jantzen’s website can be found here.

Kim Jordison

Jordison has an advanced diploma in managing for government, certificates in local government administration, leadership development, records management and office administration. She will pursue a masters of business administration at Royal Roads in Jan. 2023.

Her priorities for council are community engagement and transparency, fiscal responsibility, responsible community growth, and climate change and emergency planning.

Jordison’s website can be found here.

Steven MacAskill

MacAskill is a student at UVic studying at the Gustavson School of Business. He also works part-time at the Alexander Mackie Lodge.

His priorities on council are investing in attainable housing, expanding public transportation, and sustainable development.

MacAskill’s website can be found here.

Kim Mohns

Mohns tells CHEK News information about her campaign is not yet available. This story will be updated with information about her and her campaign when it becomes available.

Misty Olsen

Olsen says she is committed to building a community to live, work and play.

Her priorities on council are responsible management of tax dollars, foster growth and support for small businesses, and focus on community through increased housing supply, additional senior supports, arts, culture, and community safety.

Olsen ran in the 2018 election, coming in ninth place with 1,442 votes.

Olsen’s Facebook page can be found here.

Stewart Parkinson

Parkinson is seeking his second term as a councillor. He was chair of the Finanance and Governance Committee, and previously worked with the Waterfront Committee, Westshore Parks and Recreation Society, and Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association.

His focus if re-elected will be to see continued development, attract good paying jobs, manage traffic flows, increase sidewalks, and enhance parks.

In 2018, Parkinson received the sixth most votes of council candidates, with 1,767 votes.

Sacha Veelbehr

Veelbehr has a bachelor of education from UVic and journalism certificate from Langara College. She grew up in Bella Coola, BC, and graduated from Belmont Secondary in Langford.

If elected, her priority is affordable housing. She also would support the expansion of Colwood’s community garden, protection and enhancement of other green spaces, and improvements to infrastructure.

Ian Ward

Ward has a masters in Strategic HRM & Change Management from Royal Roads, and a certificate in project management and mini masters in business from UBC.

His priorities for council include responsible development, community engagement, fiscal responsibility, services and transportation, and health care and social programs.

Ward’s website can be found here.

Laura BroughamLaura Brougham

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