Issues of development and green space dominated a civic election forum on Saturday at Edward Milne Community School in Sooke.

Both mayoral and council candidates took the stage in front of an auditorium audience of more than 200 people during the two-hour event organized by the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce and EMCS Society.

Mayoral candidates Mick Rhodes and Maja Tait were front in centre, allowing one hour to debate issues by delivering opening and closing statements and answering questions from the moderator and audience. The third mayoral candidate, John Knops, did not attend the event.

Council candidates were allowed two minutes each to present their platforms in the second hour.

The issue of development and expanding green space occurred multiple times during the afternoon.

Incumbent Mayor Tait spoke about the concerns of residents.

B次元官网网址淭hese are real concerns. The council hears them, and we know that we need to improve the infrastructure,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淭he challenge we have to improve it, drive it, and use it, all at the same time. How do you fix a road and drive on it at the same time? ItB次元官网网址檚 not an easy thing to do.B次元官网网址�

Retiree Mick Rhodes, who placed third to Tait in the civic election four years ago, said decisions in the past had changed the character of Sooke to its detriment

B次元官网网址淭he mayor needs to be held accountable on many issues,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been poor decision-making in the past decade, and now weB次元官网网址檙e paying for it.B次元官网网址�

Rhodes, who worked as a journalist and community advocate, pitched the idea of a waterfront park in Sooke that could include a land swap between a developer and the District of Sooke for Lot A on Wadams Way.

Seacliff Properties has applied for a development permit for 98 residential units and more than 16,000 square feet of commercial space at the Harbourview site at the intersection of Goodmere and Sooke roads.

B次元官网网址淭here is a world of possibilities that the DOS can tap into and create a waterfront park,B次元官网网址� Rhodes said.

Tait said her platform includes bringing people and ideas together.

B次元官网网址淧eople ask me what are our (councilB次元官网网址檚) priorities,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淚t isnB次元官网网址檛 about me, but what we create together. In the end, I hope to be standing alongside six other individuals who have amazing and incredible ideas for the future of our town.B次元官网网址�

A meeting video is available on the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce .

On Sunday, Sooke voters had a second opportunity to ask questions directly to candidates during a meet-and-greet hosted by Transition Sooke at the Sooke Community Hall.

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editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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