Former councillor Ed Cooper plans to challenge Metchosin Mayor John Ranns for his seat in the November civic election.
Cooper, 81, a 51-year resident of the rural community, said heB次元官网网址檚 unhappy with how Metchosin is handling itB次元官网网址檚 spending, particularly the districtB次元官网网址檚 recent purchase of road maintenance equipment.
Metchosin bought a backhoe, a grater and other gear from a long-time roads contractor for about $50,000 after the company shut down. Cooper has sparred a number of times with Ranns at council meetings over the purchase of roads equipment.
B次元官网网址淲e are not in the excavating business. We shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be competing with private business. ItB次元官网网址檚 insane,B次元官网网址� Cooper said. B次元官网网址淪omebodyB次元官网网址檚 got to say something.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 also critical of Metchosin widening some roads and taking away from the rural character of the community. He said Kangaroo Road in particular looks like a B次元官网网址渟uper highwayB次元官网网址� after recent repaving.
B次元官网网址淲e should have rural, windy roads. Not edge to edge blacktop,B次元官网网址� he said.
Ranns has said he will seek a sixth (non consecutive) term as mayor. Cooper said he feared no one else would run and the incumbent mayor would be reelected by acclimation.
"There is no way I'm going to stand here and let anyone get in by acclimation," Cooper said. "You've got to fight for it."
Cooper served as a Metchosin councillor from 2002 to 2005, and was chair of highways and public works committee. He was sidelined after failing to earn a council seat in the 2005 and 2008 elections.
B次元官网网址淚 attend council meetings. I can see what is going on,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he taxpayer is going to take a real beating.B次元官网网址�
Watson seeks council seat
Cooper ally and long-time Metchosin politician Karen Watson, 62, said she will seek one of four council seats this time around.
She served seven years as councillor and six years as mayor through the 1990s and first half of 2000s. She is a 32-year resident of the community.
After two-terms as mayor, Ranns unseated Watson in 2005 in a heated race that hinged on the level of property development rural Metchosin should accept. She tried and failed to regain the mayor's job in 2008.
Similar to CooperB次元官网网址檚 concerns, Watson wants to look into whether the district should be operating its own public works department and if it should be contracting out other municipal positions.
B次元官网网址淢y main stress is that residents get the best value for their tax dollars,B次元官网网址� Watson said.
--by Edward Hill and Charla Huber
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
