The province has rejected a call from the Union of B.C. Municipalities to bring in legislation prohibiting candidates for local office from running simultaneously in more than one jurisdiction. The government should reconsider 鈥� it鈥檚 reasonable to insist a candidate should decide which community he or she wants to represent.
View Royal Mayor David Screech was behind the motion passed at the recent UBCM annual convention asking the provincial government to draw up legislation that would bar candidates from running in multiple jurisdictions in local elections. He points out one of the hazards of the current situation.
鈥淲hat happens if they actually get elected?鈥� he asks about a candidate whose name appears on more than one ballot. 鈥淗ow do they properly represent two jurisdictions? It鈥檚 just not possible.鈥�
A statement from the province said it 鈥渄oes not anticipate any legislative changes in the immediate future. In B.C., there have never been restrictions that would limit people from running or holding office in more than one jurisdiction.
鈥淚t is not uncommon in smaller jurisdictions for a councillor to also be a school board trustee. Each jurisdiction is a separate 鈥榞overnment.鈥� 鈥�
But Screech says he thinks the province has confused or ignored the intent of the resolution. He said the resolution was not aimed at those who might run for a school board and a town council at the same time, but at people running in multiple communities.
He said the resolution was not aimed specifically at David Shebib of Saanich, but Shebib certainly is an example of what the measure aims to prevent 鈥� he ran in all 13 capital region jurisdictions in last year鈥檚 municipal elections. Another candidate ran in three jurisdictions, and 27 candidates ran in two jurisdictions.
While this form of political polygamy is not illegal, it is questionable. How sincere is a candidate pledging to do her or his best for the community鈥檚 interests when the same sweet nothings are being whispered in other ears?
A candidate presumably has a platform tailored to the jurisdiction he or she wants to represent. While many municipalities face common issues, each one has unique challenges and issues. It would be wise to be wary of a candidate who trundles a platform from one town to another.
Holding local office requires commitment. 鈥淚鈥檒l serve whichever jurisdiction gives me the most votes鈥� sounds more cynical and opportunistic than committed.
B.C. legislation does not prohibit a resident of one community from running in another, and the UBCM did not seek to change that. Perhaps it should have 鈥� such a prohibition would prevent the problem of multiple-jurisdiction candidates.
A candidate parachuted into a provincial or federal riding might not be local, but still deals with measures that affect the whole province or the country. It jars, though, that a non-resident municipal council member can vote for tax increases he or she won鈥檛 have to pay, or can favour curtailing of services that do not affect the councillor personally.
A person who files nomination papers in multiple jurisdictions leaves the distinct impression that the aim is to further a political career, not the voters鈥� interests. A local election is a serious exercise in democracy, not some contest in which your chances of winning are improved the more times you enter.
