William Wallace has stepped away from the race for the mayorB次元官网网址檚 chair in Sooke, citing division on key issues within the community.

B次元官网网址淔irst of all, we went in with the objective of winning,B次元官网网址� Wallace said regarding his decision to run in the Oct. 15 municipal election.B次元官网网址漌hile I was in the process of finding out what SookeB次元官网网址檚 all about, a couple of things didnB次元官网网址檛 jive with me.

B次元官网网址淪ooke is a very divisive community, especially with regards to growth, the OCP draft and climate action,B次元官网网址� Wallace said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 see a consensus forming in the community to formulate a plan to accomplish actions on those important issues.B次元官网网址�

Wallace cited another key plank in his platform, the future of John Phillips Memorial Park, as an example of the division in the community.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 symbolic where you have developers on one side with their goals and those who want the preservation of green space in the only park in the townB次元官网网址檚 core on the other side,B次元官网网址� he said.

Wallace also cited the number of candidates seeking election as another factor.

B次元官网网址淭he large number of candidates popping into the race also demonstrates the division in the community on big issues like growth, the OCP and climate action,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o the prospect of a town council being elected without a unified vision for Sooke is not a vision I aspire to.

B次元官网网址淚n all of the research IB次元官网网址檝e done on different municipalities and councils, you need a mayor, council and staff united with a common vision to get action done. Without that, what I see happens is inaction, more expensive reports and a continued debate that divides the community.B次元官网网址�

Wallace added that he wanted to say he was sorry to all of his supporters who are disappointed by his decision.

The mayoralty race is now down to a three-person race: incumbent Maja Tait and challengers Mick Rhodes and John Knops.

The civic election is Oct. 15.

news@sookenewsmirror.com
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