Four years ago, then mayoral candidate Richard Atwell stressed his political independence and said slates have B次元官网网址渄evastated municipal politicsB次元官网网址� including in Saanich in a series of tweets. Now, he is heading one as an incumbent.
Slates have devastated municipal politics especially in . Please vote Independent on Nov. 15.
B次元官网网址� Richard Atwell (@AtwellRichard)
I'm independent as are all new candidates running for council. This is what a slate looks like
B次元官网网址� Richard Atwell (@AtwellRichard)
The new candidates are independent. This is what a slate looks like in
B次元官网网址� Richard Atwell (@AtwellRichard)
United for Saanich consists of Atwell, incumbent Coun. Karen Harper, and three non-incumbent candidates: Kathleen Burton, executive director of Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary; Ian Jessop, a former political spokesperson and broadcaster; and Cory Montgomery, a local businessman.
Atwell said in an interview that he is B次元官网网址減roud to runB次元官网网址� with this B次元官网网址渉ighly qualified groupB次元官网网址� under what he later called a B次元官网网址渘on-partisan slate.B次元官网网址�
This rhetoric appears to contradict his 2014 comments, when he singled out candidates running under the leadership of then-mayor Frank Leonard, whom Atwell defeated.
When the Saanich B次元官网网址 asked Atwell whether he disagreed with what he had said about slates in his 2014 tweets, he said, B次元官网网址渘ot really.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 thought that party politics [specifically B.C. Liberal party politics] was getting in the way of progress at Saanich, hence the independent quote in my tweet,B次元官网网址� he said.
Provincial politics do not belong at the council table, he said. B次元官网网址淲e [United for Saanich] are grassroots and not beholden to or supported by any political parties.B次元官网网址�
So how does he think the public react to AtwellB次元官网网址檚 decision to headline United for Saanich in 2018 after his comments in 2014?
B次元官网网址淚n 2014, residents were looking for a change in direction and voted for change,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭o fulfill this mandate we need greater co-operation from candidates, who are willing to put party politics and personal agendas aside and move Saanich forward.B次元官网网址�
The group will formally introduce itself Friday with a press release that invites Saanich residents to meet with them at their booth at the Saanich Fair.
Mona Brash, a political scientist, said slates bear dangers but also opportunities.
Slates can be problematic because one person could drag down the others, she said, adding slates also give the appearance of political party influence. B次元官网网址淢any people do not like party politics overtly involved in local politics (even though we know they are behind the scenes),B次元官网网址� she said.
But slates can also clarify choices. B次元官网网址淚n an election where there is a sharp divide in the municipality, slates can be good as they clearly identify the stance on the divisive issue(s),B次元官网网址� she said.
This said, voters do sometimes want to see a variety of voices on council, she added.
Coun. Fred Haynes, who is running against Atwell for mayor, generally questioned slates. B次元官网网址淚 believe that Saanich is best served by electing nine independent, diverse members. This better represents our community.B次元官网网址�
Haynes said a slate with five members could enable passage of an agenda without debate. B次元官网网址淭his scenario is not in the best interest of Saanich,B次元官网网址� he said, pointing to AtwellB次元官网网址檚 previous comments about LeonardB次元官网网址檚 slate that he said was effectively only B次元官网网址榦ne voice.B次元官网网址�
Atwell, for his part, is not distancing himself from his apparent reversal of position concerning slates.
B次元官网网址淭hanks for [the] opportunity to clarify my old comments,B次元官网网址� he said.
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