View Royal stirs interest in Nov. 18 byelection

View Royal Mayor David Screech hopes the municipality tops Saanich when it comes to voter turnout in the upcoming byelection.

The Saanich byelection, held in September, drew 11.4 per cent of registered voters.

“I would like to see us do much better than that,” Screech said.

Several events are scheduled in the lead-up to the Nov. 18 byelection, being held to replace councillor Heidi Rast.

An all-candidates meeting is to be held Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m. at the Strawberry Vale and District Community Club at 11 High St.

A meet-and-greet session organized by the View Royal Community Association follows on Nov. 13, 6:30-9 p.m. at View Royal Community Hall, 279 Island Highway.

Transportation seems to be an emerging election issue, including the use of View Royal roadways as “cut-through” routes by motorists, Screech said.

Advance voting takes place Nov. 8 and 15 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at View Royal Town Hall, located at 45 View Royal Ave.

Voting on Nov. 18 will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at View Royal Elementary School, 218 Helmcken Rd.

Six people are running to replace Rast, who stepped down to accept a job with a biopharmaceutical manufacturer in Charlottetown.

They are Mark Brennan, Nathan Kyle Daisley, Adam Flint, Angela Hanes, Damian Kowalewich and Jodi Zwicker.

The new councillor will serve until fall 2018, when B.C.’s next municipal elections will be held.

Rast, who worked at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, was first elected in 2008 and led the polls in both 2011 and 2014. Screech has acknowledged her key role in securing a new fire hall for the municipality, and wished her and husband, Leland, the best in their new surroundings.

> For more information on the byelection, go to viewroyal.ca.