Maja Tait has many things going for her as she launches a campaign to win a third term as Sooke mayor.
The 48-eight-yeard-old wife and mother has served on Sooke council since 2008, winning first as a councillor and then as mayor, and although her challengers lack political experience, she takes nothing for granted.
Political neophyte John Knops is making his first attempt in a mayorB次元官网网址檚 race, while Mick Rhodes is pursuing a second run after gaining just 135 votes in the 2018 civic election. Williams Wallace dropped out of the race two weeks ago.
B次元官网网址淟ocal government is all about the people. ItB次元官网网址檚 my job to bring out the best in everyone,B次元官网网址� Tait said.
Over the eight-year reign of Tait, with her compassionate style at the head of the council table, Sooke has evolved from a rural outback of the Capital Regional District to one of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 fastest-growing communities.
Over the last four years, there has been rapid development of housing, building infrastructure, a focus on economic development to bring more employment to the community and a strong recognition of the impact of climate change.
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Still, promises of creating a new official community plan have stumbled over the last four years.
Many councillors hoped to adopt a new OCP.
This week council will hold a public hearing on the 238-page planning document. Councillors wanted to adopt it before this fallB次元官网网址檚 municipal election at the beginning of the term.
Tait said now isnB次元官网网址檛 the time, and councillors should push the proposed OCP to the next council .
B次元官网网址淭he vision is fine. Everyone agrees with that. ItB次元官网网址檚 the implementation piece where thereB次元官网网址檚 disagreement,B次元官网网址� Tait said. B次元官网网址淥ur partner, the development community, is not on board, and we need to understand why in a less combative way.B次元官网网址�
Over the next four years, Sooke faces challenges B次元官网网址� not just on a local level but at an international one, too, Tait said, as the world deals with the war in Ukraine, hyperinflation and supply chain issues.
She expects more Ukrainian refugees to seek homes in Sooke, and there are municipal service delivery challenges. Work will also continue improving infrastructure, local employment and creating a range of housing and business space.
B次元官网网址淭here is always something we need to work on,B次元官网网址� Tait said. B次元官网网址淚f council works cohesively and does the work it needs to do, then we can tackle those issues as they come forward.B次元官网网址�
Tait captured 56.4 per cent of the vote in the 2018 election, easily beating Rhodes and former councillor Kevin Pearson.
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