OAK BAY MUNICIPAL ELECTION
(See voting dates below)
♫♪ Whom Shall I Turn To ♫♪
Voting Considerations:
MAYOR:
If you have been paying attention in the past 7 years, there has not been a lot of consideration given to infrastructure improvement, responsible allocation of tax dollars and addressing our zoning problems and impacts. What is also troubling residents are our large tax increases, the state of our roads, sewers and storm drains. Also the development that has occurred is particularly worrisome - very large houses, spot zoning that overrides the zoning bylaw, the number of subdivisions and the quantity of mature trees lost.
These problems will be significantly impacted by a major infill development initiative, approved by the current Mayor’s deciding vote. For 7 years residents have been picking up the tab on development applications and their impacts; waiting for public engagement - separate from Council meetings; being concerned about so much spending on consultant contracts -. these with very limited action. There has been no overall growth plan. All of this indicates what we may expect to continue. Please carefully consider: is seven years too long to wait and is it time for a change?
COUNCIL:
Oak Bay Watch’s position is we need a Council which is impartial and independent and has the knowledge and experience to address our tax, infrastructure and financial problems. It must determine how these will keep pace with our development and growth. We must have a Council which will determine how development costs and impacts will benefit and affect existing residents and our community. We cannot begin to do this without instructions to our expanded planning department to develop an overall growth control plan.
We have identified four Council candidates that we believe meet these criteria and will be accountable, protect the public interest in growth and development and be fiscally responsible:
An Oak Bay Watch Perspective
The following Candidates have proven by their voting record that they have the knowledge, experience and credentials to address the important issues prioritized by residents: - Zoning, Infrastructure and Finances.
Hazel Braithwaite, (incumbent): hazelbraithwaite.ca
- Oak Bay resident for 30 Years
- 3 term experienced Oak Bay Councilor
- Council liaison on many Council Committees
- Served the community as a volunteer with many
organizations: Canadian Cancer Society, BC Children’s
Hospital, United Way etc.
- Introduced a Council Resolution for Town Hall Meetings
Eric Zhelka MMSc, P.Eng, CPHIMS-CA, PMP, (incumbent): ericzhelka.ca
- Professional Engineer
- Zoning expertise
- Strong voting record on responsible zoning, financial,
and environmental issues
- Held his own Town Hall Meetings for residents
- Advocate for a evidence - driven planning approach
Esther Paterson, Advisory Planning Commission Member: esther4council.com
- Extensive financial and management experience
- Attended (this term) most Council and many Council
committee meetings
- Instrumental in obtaining the release of the withheld,
Asset (infrastructure) Management Report
- Instrumental in influencing Council to identify Reserve
Fund Accounts
- Is a strong advocate for financial stability and protecting
the public interest.
Cairine Green – Experienced Council Member: wherewelive.cairinegreen.ca
- 1 term Councilor in Oak Bay and 2 terms in North
Saanich
- Chair of Oak Bay Heritage Commission - Served on a
number of regional commissions and committees
- A strong advocate on Social Issues
- Served as Council liaison on Environmental Advisory
Commission, Water/Wastewater Commission, Regional
Library Board etc.
- A strong advocate for transparency - providing residents
with detailed information.
Oak Bay Watch is providing this information as an additional basis for deciding whom to vote for. We base it on our knowledge of attending all Council meetings and many council committee meetings and the voting record of the aforementioned candidates. It is not necessary to vote for six councillor positions. If you only like the four we suggest then you help those four the most by voting only for them.
Voting Information
General Municipal Election: Saturday, October 20, 2018. Advanced Voting Polls: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 and Wednesday, October 17, 2018. Where(Advaced Polls): Oak Bay Municipal Hall, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Voters are entitled to four consecutive hours free from work to vote on General Voting Day Oct 20, 2018. For details see: https://elections.bc.ca/provincial-elections/voting/time-off-work-for-voting/
(See voting dates below)
♫♪ Whom Shall I Turn To ♫♪
Voting Considerations:
MAYOR:
If you have been paying attention in the past 7 years, there has not been a lot of consideration given to infrastructure improvement, responsible allocation of tax dollars and addressing our zoning problems and impacts. What is also troubling residents are our large tax increases, the state of our roads, sewers and storm drains. Also the development that has occurred is particularly worrisome - very large houses, spot zoning that overrides the zoning bylaw, the number of subdivisions and the quantity of mature trees lost.
These problems will be significantly impacted by a major infill development initiative, approved by the current Mayor’s deciding vote. For 7 years residents have been picking up the tab on development applications and their impacts; waiting for public engagement - separate from Council meetings; being concerned about so much spending on consultant contracts -. these with very limited action. There has been no overall growth plan. All of this indicates what we may expect to continue. Please carefully consider: is seven years too long to wait and is it time for a change?
COUNCIL:
Oak Bay Watch’s position is we need a Council which is impartial and independent and has the knowledge and experience to address our tax, infrastructure and financial problems. It must determine how these will keep pace with our development and growth. We must have a Council which will determine how development costs and impacts will benefit and affect existing residents and our community. We cannot begin to do this without instructions to our expanded planning department to develop an overall growth control plan.
We have identified four Council candidates that we believe meet these criteria and will be accountable, protect the public interest in growth and development and be fiscally responsible:
An Oak Bay Watch Perspective
The following Candidates have proven by their voting record that they have the knowledge, experience and credentials to address the important issues prioritized by residents: - Zoning, Infrastructure and Finances.
Hazel Braithwaite, (incumbent): hazelbraithwaite.ca
- Oak Bay resident for 30 Years
- 3 term experienced Oak Bay Councilor
- Council liaison on many Council Committees
- Served the community as a volunteer with many
organizations: Canadian Cancer Society, BC Children’s
Hospital, United Way etc.
- Introduced a Council Resolution for Town Hall Meetings
Eric Zhelka MMSc, P.Eng, CPHIMS-CA, PMP, (incumbent): ericzhelka.ca
- Professional Engineer
- Zoning expertise
- Strong voting record on responsible zoning, financial,
and environmental issues
- Held his own Town Hall Meetings for residents
- Advocate for a evidence - driven planning approach
Esther Paterson, Advisory Planning Commission Member: esther4council.com
- Extensive financial and management experience
- Attended (this term) most Council and many Council
committee meetings
- Instrumental in obtaining the release of the withheld,
Asset (infrastructure) Management Report
- Instrumental in influencing Council to identify Reserve
Fund Accounts
- Is a strong advocate for financial stability and protecting
the public interest.
Cairine Green – Experienced Council Member: wherewelive.cairinegreen.ca
- 1 term Councilor in Oak Bay and 2 terms in North
Saanich
- Chair of Oak Bay Heritage Commission - Served on a
number of regional commissions and committees
- A strong advocate on Social Issues
- Served as Council liaison on Environmental Advisory
Commission, Water/Wastewater Commission, Regional
Library Board etc.
- A strong advocate for transparency - providing residents
with detailed information.
Oak Bay Watch is providing this information as an additional basis for deciding whom to vote for. We base it on our knowledge of attending all Council meetings and many council committee meetings and the voting record of the aforementioned candidates. It is not necessary to vote for six councillor positions. If you only like the four we suggest then you help those four the most by voting only for them.
Voting Information
General Municipal Election: Saturday, October 20, 2018. Advanced Voting Polls: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 and Wednesday, October 17, 2018. Where(Advaced Polls): Oak Bay Municipal Hall, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Voters are entitled to four consecutive hours free from work to vote on General Voting Day Oct 20, 2018. For details see: https://elections.bc.ca/provincial-elections/voting/time-off-work-for-voting/