It was perhaps an unexpected ending to an all-candidates meeting, with Metchosin council hopefuls embracing in public displays of affection.

Mayoral and council candidates met a full-house of residents and a barrage of questions at the Metchosin Community Hall last Friday night.

All current council members are running again this election B次元官网网址� councillors Jo Mitchell, Moralea Milne, Bob Gramigna, Larry Tremblay and Mayor John Ranns.

Former councillor Kyara Kahakauwila, former mayor Karen Watson and newcomers Terry Wilson and Dani Horgan are seeking a council seat. Former councillor Ed Cooper is challenging Ranns for the mayorB次元官网网址檚 seat.

When candidates were asked for their long-term vision of the community, Cooper responded with, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to see everyone in the community get along.B次元官网网址�

With that, Ranns reached over and put his arm around his fellow aspirant. Hugging became infectious as Milne and Horgan embraced, and other candidates began to follow suit as the crowd erupted with laughter.

The opening statements of Ranns and Cooper were the most heated of what was still a rather mild meeting. Cooper argued that Metchosin is in financial trouble and read out details of staff salaries and vehicle maintenance reports.

When Ranns, seeking his sixth non-consecutive term as mayor, took his turn, he said, B次元官网网址淚 really like Ed, but heB次元官网网址檚 really not right about a lot of stuff.B次元官网网址�

Ranns said the District is a provincial leader on running a small municipality and is in excellent financial health.

Audience questions mainly focused on two topics: the upcoming referendum question on detached secondary suites, and bylaw enforcement.

Watson, Tremblay, Wilson, Horgan and Cooper all said they would vote B次元官网网址測esB次元官网网址� to allow detached suites. Kahakauwila was undecided, while Mitchell and Milne said they are opposed to detached suites.

Gramigna and Ranns stayed neutral and refused to disclose their votes.

B次元官网网址淚 see detached suites or second houses as a slippery slope to subdivisions,B次元官网网址� Mitchell said.

B次元官网网址淚f there has to be 50 feet between the suite and the house, how could you subdivide that?B次元官网网址� Tremblay responded.

B次元官网网址淚 maintain my neutrality. It isnB次元官网网址檛 for me to sway to the vote,B次元官网网址� Gramigna said.

While Metchosin residents will be voting on whether or not to allow detached suites in the district, many of these suites already exist in Metchosin.

B次元官网网址淲e have detached suites here. A lot of young families live in them, a lot of our volunteers live in them,B次元官网网址� said Kahakauwila, a former three-term councillor.

For candidates in favour of secondary suites, the consensus was the detached suites would be built primarily for family members, giving grown children the ability to stay within the district.

B次元官网网址淭his will make us stronger by keeping families together,B次元官网网址� Wilson said.

Horgan admitted to living in her parentsB次元官网网址� legal secondary suite. B次元官网网址淚 am a renter and canB次元官网网址檛 afford to live here. I would love to have my own (detached) suite.B次元官网网址�

Residents voiced concern over if detached suites are OKB次元官网网址檇 in the district, people may start building additional suites illegally. B次元官网网址淲e would draft a a very tight bylaw,B次元官网网址� Watson said.

B次元官网网址淲e need to make sure we hold tight and protect what we hold dear to ourselves,B次元官网网址� Kahakauwila said.

Throughout the meeting residents, raised question about the DistrictB次元官网网址檚 ability to enforce bylaws pertaining to secondary suites and other infractions.

Milne brought up the point that while the detached secondary suites are illegal, B次元官网网址測ou canB次元官网网址檛 just kick people out. Some people are barely above homelessness.B次元官网网址�

Ranns explained mediation is best way to handle bylaw infractions, as opposed to going to court, which is costly for the District and taxpayers.

All candidates agreed the new council will need to look at the detached secondary suites, regardless of the referendum results. B次元官网网址淲e will have to look at how we address our illegal suites,B次元官网网址� Ranns said.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com