John Ranns is running for his seventh non-consecutive term as Mayor of Metchosin this November, but the longtime civil servant isnB次元官网网址檛 going to be able to just walk back into office if challenger Ed Cooper has anything to say about it.

B次元官网网址淭he only reason IB次元官网网址檓 running against Ranns is to make sure heB次元官网网址檚 not acclaimed,B次元官网网址� says Cooper, an 84-year-old Korean War veteran. B次元官网网址淚 think every candidate should stand up there in front of the taxpayer, and that doesnB次元官网网址檛 happen in acclamation.B次元官网网址�

As for his own campaign platform, Cooper, whoB次元官网网址檚 lived in Metchosin for more than 50 years, is passionately committed to making sure the community stays B次元官网网址渞ural.B次元官网网址�

Ranns is of the same mind. B次元官网网址淭he whole reason for me running is to try and perpetuate our rural lifestyle,B次元官网网址� including the feasibility of living in the country, he adds.

B次元官网网址淎ffordable preservation of lifestyle. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a big element of it. If you canB次元官网网址檛 afford to be rural, then you canB次元官网网址檛 be.B次元官网网址�

Metchosin has the lowest residential taxes for assessed value of all 13 municipalities, continues Ranns, and B次元官网网址渨eB次元官网网址檝e also got by far the lowest administrative costs as well.B次元官网网址�

Cooper isnB次元官网网址檛 convinced that MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 budget is as trim and efficient. He cites the upgrading of Kangaroo Road as an example.

B次元官网网址淚t came in at $400,000 over budget and I got those numbers off the municipal hall,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 want the budget to be kept under control. I think everybody should get a good wage, but when youB次元官网网址檙e spending someone elseB次元官网网址檚 money B次元官网网址� the taxpayersB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� you have to get the best deal.B次元官网网址�

On this, both Cooper and Ranns seem to agree. Metchosin contracts out all its professional services, such as planning, says Ranns, a practice that has saved the district a substantial amount of money and allowed funds to be directed back into the municipality.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got an up-to-date infrastructure,B次元官网网址� says Ranns. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e debt free, and we have reserve funds in place to cover any eventuality.B次元官网网址�

For Cooper, if heB次元官网网址檚 elected, heB次元官网网址檒l be committed to preserving the community and supporting its residents. B次元官网网址淚 want it to stay rural. I want the roads to stay rural,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淎nd farming in Metchosin is really important. Farmers are starving here, so we should be able to come up with a plan to help them, rather than just farming taxes.B次元官网网址�

Ranns has B次元官网网址渢wo major issuesB次元官网网址� he plans to see through if heB次元官网网址檚 elected once again to office.

B次元官网网址淥ne is the treaty negotiations and how that impacts our community, and the other is amalgamation. (It) isnB次元官网网址檛 going away. If Metchosin were to be amalgamated into an urban municipality, weB次元官网网址檇 be finished.B次元官网网址�

The incumbent hopes Metchosin residents B次元官网网址渁ppreciate the direction weB次元官网网址檝e taken the community since 2005,B次元官网网址� and says heB次元官网网址檒l work to B次元官网网址渕aintain its rural direction no matter what the circumstances.B次元官网网址�

As for Cooper, who still runs a saw mill and spends most of his days working a chainsaw, he plans to keep Ranns on his toes, especially at the all-candidates meetings.

B次元官网网址淚t was all about getting Ranns up front for people to ask him questions.B次元官网网址�

acowan@goldstreamgazette.com