Our Assessment of the 2018 Local Election Candidates

• background and experience
• knowledge of local governance
• collaborative skills
• ideas and priorities
• communications skills and
• their reflection of “Positively Forward” values.

We came to the following recommendations:

CRD Director: Gary Holman

Islands Trust: Peter Grove and Laura Patrick

The CRD decision was easily made. Gary Holman unreservedly is the candidate who best represents Positively Forward values. His experience and results-oriented collaborative approach will put him in the best position to win support from the CRD Board and administration to get projects completed and make changes needed to improve delivery of services on SSI.

The Trust decision was more difficult because there are several candidates with significant strengths. We recommend Peter Grove because of his experience, and his collaborative, respectful and responsive style of leadership. Of the five new candidates, Laura Patrick impressed us with her understanding of the role of Trustee, professional background, local community experience, diligence and energy.

Link to more info:
Salt Spring Community Alliance questions and answers from candidates:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yuAe2qDncDpp9q60WmRv7qiijO_qLja0/view

Regardless of which candidates you support, please get out and vote on:

Wednesday Oct 17th,  8am—8pm

• Community Gospel Chapel, 147 Vesuvius Bay Road, Ganges
• Salt Spring Public Library, 129 McPhillips Avenue, Ganges

Saturday October 20th,  8am—8pm

• Community Gospel Chapel, 147 Vesuvius Bay Road, Ganges
• Fulford Hall Seniors Centre, 2591 Fulford-Ganges Road, Fulford
• Salt Spring Public Library, 129 McPhillips Avenue, Ganges

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Starting late last year, a three-person search committee began the challenging task of  talking to more than fifty islanders about their interest in local governance. The conversations were broad-ranging in scope.  The objective was to research what mattered most to those with a keen enthusiasm for issues relating to how the island is governed, and to identify any potential electoral candidates. People on both sides of the referendum vote were interviewed. 

“What took us by surprise a bit was the large number of people willing to engage with passion and thoughtfulness about issues such as leadership, service delivery, and improvements to local governance,” said Patricia Lockie, a member of both the search and assessment committees. “We were told time and time again how important this election is in plotting a course for a healthy and vibrant community future. Encourage the best qualified people to run was the take home message.” 

Not everyone on the search committee’s wish list was able to run. Bad timing, family commitments, and current job status precluded some outstanding nominees from running.

When the eight electoral candidates officially declared, Positively Forward formed an assessment group in response to requests for information that would help voters decide which candidates to support. Each of the candidates was asked to meet with the assessment committee and each of them agreed. 

Based on those interviews, the All-Candidates’ meeting, answers provided to the Community Alliance and the Driftwood questions, as well as articles and campaign materials, the committee ranked candidates using a list of six criteria. 

From these rankings, the committee was then able to make its final recommendations.

Visit the Positively Forward web site for a full list of the criteria used. 

Positively Forward thanks all of the candidates for their commitment to the electoral process and for their graciousness in helping us in our deliberations.