In Metchosin, two of the current councillors are in the running to be the next mayor, and there are eight people running for the councillor positions.
Kyara Kahakauwila and Marie-Térèse Little are in the running for mayor, while the current mayor, John Ranns, is not seeking re-election.
There are four councillor positions with eight people, only one of which is an incumbent, seeking the spots.
Metchosin voters will also cast a ballot for the four school district trustees in the Belmont Zone of the Sooke School District.
There will be two advance voting days at Metchosin’s municipal hall from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 12. General voting day on Oct. 15 will be the same hours and same location.
In 2018, 1,619 people voted in the Metchosin election, a turnout of 43.6 per cent.
Mayor
In 2018, Ranns ran unopposed and was acclaimed to the seat.
Kyara Kahakauwila
Kahakauwila is a five-term councillor seeking election as the district’s mayor. She has participated in CRD committees and has forged relationships that she says will allow her to continue to advocate to protect Metchosin as a sustainable rural community. She has 22 years of business experience co-owning and operating a business with her husband and has lived in Metchosin for 34 years.
If elected, her priorities are establishing short, medium and long-term goals with the new council, examining services for residents and ensuring needs are being met, maintaining a fiscally responsible outlook to spending, seeing what the district can do to mitigate impacts of climate change, continue to grow the friendship and partnership with SC’IANEW Nation, develop an active transportation plan, work with the farming community to ensure the long-term viability with local agriculture, hire a new CAO, and continue to negotiate and explore options for policing costs.
In 2018, Kahakauwila received the third most votes with 820.
Kahakauwila’s Facebook page can be found here.
Marie-Térèse Little
Little was first elected as a councillor in 2018, and is now seeking the mayor’s chair. She has served on a number of committees and boards during her time as councillor, including as chair of the parks committee and Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee. She has a bachelor of science from UVic, masters in science and a PhD from the University of British Columbia.
If elected, she plans to ensure governance at the municipal level is accountable, develop and implement a Rural Metchosin Preservation Plan, and support sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.
In 2018, Little received the fourth most votes with 739.
Little’s website can be found here.
Councillor
There are four councillor seats in Metchosin up for election.
Mark Atherton
CHEK News reached out to Atherton and he chose not to provide requested information including a brief bio and priorities if elected.
Tamara Ballard
Ballard is a fairly new Metchosin resident, but has lived in the Western Communities “straddled the Metchosin border” for 15 years. She moved to Metchosin six years ago. She is the mother of two young adults, a novice gardener, and loving and supportive wife. Her background as a stay-at-home mom has ensured she is budget concious. She now helps her husband with their small family-run business.
If elected, her priorities are to keep taxes affordable, maintain rural status, ensure agricultural and food security, and bylaw education and enforcement.
Shelly Donaldson
Donaldson has lived in the community for 33 years on a small-acreage farm three miles from where she grew up. She retired from her work as a Red Seal Chef and business owner and has been more involved in community service, dedicating over 25 years throughout the district.
If elected, she is commited to promote community-based problem solving and increasing transparency, promoting fiscal responsibility to keep taxes low, collaborate with regional municipal councils to defend the “rural alternative,” bring a strong commitment to local sustainable agricultural and made-in Metchosin climate change plan and the OCP, advocate for a safe and health community, and address good governance and mutual respect for office.
Donaldson’s website can be found here.
Sharie Epp
Epp is the only incumbent running for council. She has lived in Metchosin for almost 50 years and says she is seeking re-election because she feels she has more to contribute to the community. During her working career she held several jobs including at the Times Colonist for 23 years, the last 18 as a sports reporter before she retried. She says she takes a “boots on the ground” approach and prefers to be a “doer, rather than a talker.”
If elected, she plans to keep Metchosin green, implement road improvements, a community centre, a safer fire hall, and fostering a positive atmosphere in council chambers.
In 2018, Epp received the second most votes with 895.
Steve Gray
Gray has lived in Metchosin for 30 years and has raised three children in the district with his wife. He has been a member of the Metchosin Hall Society and is one of two trustee owners of the Metchosin Community Hall. He is a retired medical doctor with background in negotiations, policy analysis and planning.
If elected, he plans to work to keep Metchosin undeveloped and financially secure, retain remaining wild spaces, finalize a local climate emergency plan, support local agriculture, follow the Official Community Plan, and strengthen and enforce bylaws.
Gray’s website can be found here.
Jay Shukin
Shukin has lived in Metchosin since 2010 and has been outspoken on community issues like bylaw enforcement, aquifer protection, the Boys and Girls Club lands, and the Buffer Lands. He was president of the Association for the Protection of Rural Metchosin from 2020 to 2022. He works as a public affairs officer focusing on Indigenous relations and stakeholder engagement.
If elected, his priorities are effective bylaw enforcement, fiscal responsibility, a climate action plan, the buffer land and protection of community assets, developing a village core strategy, and working on the relationship with the Sc’ianew First Nation.
Shukin’s website can be found here.
Eric White
White is a vegetable farmer running for council because he wants to maintain Metchosin’s rural identity in a responsible way to recognize some changes may need to be made in order to achieve that.
If elected, his priorities are to listen to what the community needs and wishes, and to support farmers so Metchosin can be a hub for agricultural and food security.
White’s website can be found here.
Leslie Zinger
CHEK News has reached out to Zinger and has not heard back. This story will be updated when a response is received.
Laura Brougham
