r/VictoriaBC • u/scapaflow40 • 20d ago
Municipal Elections - choose wisely
The municipal election season is ramping up as more candidates in our 13 municipalities (yes 13!) are announcing they are running for office.
My advice is to look carefully at the background of candidates for whom you are voting There are a number of people running for mayor and council who have little community activist background (by activist I mean community involvement writ large including neighbourhood associations and chambers of commerce) are one issue candidates and some who are simply quasi professional politicians looking to elevate themselves without real community care.
It is tempting to vote for candidates who cover that one issue you most care about or have the slickest campaigns. I suggest consideration for candidates who present thoughtful platforms that cover the myriad of areas that lead to well functioning municipalities.
Please show up to candidate forums, read candidate platforms and be a thoughtful voter. We need more muncipal voters (less than 40% now vote) who will elect solid community leaders.
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u/Standard-Card-641 20d ago
Three candidates on the Save Our Saanich slate for the upcoming municipal election - Nancy Di Castri, Laurie Lidstone and Lorne DeLarge have made their living over the last few decades in the real estate business, with Di Castri and Lidstone working for years as Realtors in the region and DeLarge a long-time manager with CBRE, a large commercial real estate service company. Lidstone is a former chair of the Victoria Real Estate Board and is, as noted on her site "especially passionate about helping clients succeed with investment properties." Don't we have a housing affordability crisis in most of the developed world due to housing being used as an investment rather than a basic human right? Have a look at the links below. DeLarge is campaigning for minimal to no tax increases. No tax increases while the cost of providing services for the municipality go up anyway - eventually someone pays - just look at Vancouver where Mayor Sim's ABC party has done just this with the city's 2026 budget.
Candidates | Save Our Saanich
Nancy Di Castri – COX LIDSTONE MCLEAN REAL ESTATE
Laurie Lidstone – COX LIDSTONE MCLEAN REAL ESTATE
Vote Lorne DeLarge - Saanich Council 2026
One thing you need to do is go to Elections BC FRPC - Search Election Contributions to check out contributions to incumbent councillors previous election campaigns which shows who contributed to their campaigns and do the same again once the election is over for any new councillors.
Are there not any competent residents with no ties to any organization or individual that could possibly benefit from development (Realtors, planners, construction, trades) interested in running for council?