Election

by

After a hectic municipal election campaign that wound up on October 20, 2018, election day, Oak Bay voters elected a new Mayor and Council.  I was gratified to be among the seven candidates elected and am deeply grateful to Oak Bay voters for their support, awarding me over 3,800 votes and giving me the privilege … Read more

by

What it takes to run What does it take to run for public office?  I am often asked this question and have put together what I think are some key factors in making such a decision.  My perspective is based on years of experience working on the campaigns of others, on my own municipal campaigns … Read more

by

Green Announces Run for Oak Bay Council Oak Bay Heritage Commission chair and former councillor Cairine Green announced today that she will seek a seat on Oak Bay Council in the October 2018 municipal election. “Oak Bay’s strength lies in the talents of its people and the diversity of its neighbourhoods and natural beauty. I … Read more

by

Writing can be cathartic for me and never more so than now, following the American election results of this last week. I have more than a glancing relationship with the United States, which could, in part, explain my visceral reaction to this election.  My parents moved our family from Victoria to Southern California in 1958 … Read more

by

A new era of Canadian federal politics unfolded in Ottawa and across the country with the swearing in on November 4, 2015 of a second Trudeau Liberal government. Since election day, changes in tone, intent and leadership have been nothing less than groundbreaking.  While media and political pundits covering events called November 4 a day … Read more

by

Well, it’s all over but the shouting.  The longest election in Canadian campaign history ended with a triumphant Liberal sweep and a significant defeat for the Harper Conservatives.  The NDP also took a drubbing because it appears that when Thomas Mulcair turned right, Justin Trudeau went left and the rest, they say, is history.  The … Read more

by

Transparency and Accountability  In the interests of transparency and public accountability, I want to share the Elections BC link with you, that provides detailed information on funding related to expenditures and donations, for my last municipal election campaign for Oak Bay Mayor. Please click on this link for my spending details: http://bit.ly/1MZ1sLC

by

Putting a Lid on Municipal Election Campaign Spending Needed Local election campaign spending is back in the news again, with the release this week by Elections BC, of candidates’ campaign spending.  The recurring theme is that as spending continues to go up, the ability of ordinary citizens to participate (especially young people), goes down.  Raising … Read more

by

The new Oak Bay Council announced that over the next three months, it will review roles and responsibilities of its advisory commissions and committees, avenues for meaningful volunteer involvement that signifies a commitment to citizen engagement.  A priority of mine during the last municipal election, it makes good sense to review, from time to time, … Read more

by

In case you missed it, a Provincial all-party Special Committee on Local Elections Expense Limits released its long-awaited report on December 15, 2014.  As stated in the press release, “the report contains results of the Committee’s public consultation on principles to guide the relationship between elector organizations and their endorsed candidates related to expense limits, … Read more

by

I read with interest Mayor Nils Jensen’s “to do” list in the December 7th Times Colonist profile on his election win.  While many of the priorities sounded familiar to me (part of my own campaign platform), the following is a more complete list of what I believe Oak Bay’s Mayor should focus on during the … Read more