Holmes eyes mayor’s chair in Summerland
Summerland is being throttled by a lack of political leadership and Doug Holmes believes he’s the man to change it.
Holmes, a two-term councillor, announced Tuesday he’s running for mayor in the Oct. 15 municipal election.
His campaign has eight planks, most of them covering usual fare like housing, quality of life and infrastructure, but three others speak directly to transparency, trust and leadership.
“When you think of the challenges facing local governments today, we’re on the front lines of everything — climate change, the pandemic, economic upheaval, the great demographic shift that’s going on, reconciliation, everything,” said Holmes in an interview Tuesday.
“It used to just be the highest levels of government where you needed leaders that had to make decisions under duress and pressure, but today’s it’s everywhere, even in small, rural communities like Summerland. So, I think we need someone with a clarity of direction who can grasp some complex issues and handle difficult situations and problems that are going to arise.
“The old style of mayors, where they’re in charge, this whole top-down, us-versusthem divisive style, it doesn’t work. The modern concept of leadership is where the mayor seeks to unite everyone around them and solve problems together.”
So, does Holmes believe such leadership has been in short supply during Toni Boot’s current reign as mayor?
“Yeah,” he said. “I mean, that’s not being critical of anybody. Never mind the last four years, I don’t think we’ve ever had that kind of leadership.”
Holmes’ website contains even sharper criticism while never once mentioning Boot by name.
On the subject of transparency, Holmes wants the deputy mayor to sit in on the meetings where the mayor approves council agendas and wants more time set aside during council meetings for the mayor to report on his or her activities.
And on the subject of trust, Holmes suggests the mayor “always needs to act ethically and communicate honestly, and they need to understand they represent all of council not just themselves.”
Boot, who hasn’t yet stated publicly if she’ll seek re-election, has sparred frequently with Holmes and other councillors on a range of issues.
Last fall, she tried and failed to pass a motion that would guarantee Summerland’s mayor one of the community’s two seats on the board of the Regional District of OkanaganSimilkameen. Those seats are currently held by Holmes and Coun. Erin Trainer.
Holmes was also at odds with Boot and a majority of council earlier this year when he voted against offering health benefits to the district’s elected officials.
Outside of office, Holmes is the founding chair of the Summerland Refugee Sponsorship Group and a former vice-president of South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services. He was also recently named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Summerland Rotary Club, representing the highest distinction the club can confer on a non-member.
Following an international career in business and journalism, Holmes, also a certified tennis instructor, returned in 2004 to his hometown of Summerland to raise his family.
Tuesday marked the official opening of the nomination period for municipal elections across B.C. Candidates have until Sept. 9 to get their papers in. The official campaign period runs from Sept. 17 through Oct. 15.