Nominations have closed and 198 names are in the running for seats on Greater Victoria鈥檚 13 municipal councils. However, 13 of those names are identical: David Shebib. Shebib is running for mayor in all 13 municipalities.
The frequent candidate is unlikely to win a seat anywhere, considering that in 2011, when Shebib ran for mayor in Victoria and Saanich, he garnered 161 and 173 votes, respectively. However, his wide-ranging political ambition points out some challenges in our electoral system.
We want politics and government to be open to everyone, but a candidate who spreads his name across more than a dozen municipalities tests the limits of our patience.
Shebib is doing nothing illegal. There is no prohibition on running in more than one municipality in the same election. Until the 1970s, candidates were required to own property in the municipality, but that was abolished. There is no residence requirement for municipal politicians.
Most people probably think local politicians should live in the municipalities they serve, but there are strong arguments on both sides.
Ida Chong, an experienced former sa国际传媒 Liberal cabinet minister, is running for mayor of Victoria, although she lives in Saanich. If the voters of Victoria decide her skills are what the city needs, should they not be able to elect her, regardless of where she lives?
In a city where regional issues are so important, local politicians should have a broad perspective.
On the other hand, other people argue that when a politician is making decisions on finances, taxation, municipal services or economic development, he or she should have to feel the consequences of those decisions. The mayor should be serving his or her neighbours.
While the question of residence is open to argument, there should be no argument about allowing one person to run in 13 municipalities in the same election. This is an election, not a lottery. If you want to hold office, you campaign hard and convince the voters of your worth. You don鈥檛 buy extra tickets hoping one of them will come up a winner.
No one could serve as mayor of two municipalities at the same time. It would be ethically impossible and physically impossible, as many councils meet at the same times. And being mayor has become a full-time job, even in smaller communities.
Perhaps Shebib is trying to make a point, but if so, it is lost on the rest of us. It is hard enough to get voters to take an interest in municipal politics. In 2011, Langford鈥檚 14 per cent turnout was the lowest in the province, and the largest turnout in the capital region was below 50 per cent. We need candidates who will inspire voters with their commitment to the difficult decisions that must be made in local government.
Municipal government matters because it is the one that is closest to people鈥檚 daily lives. When we step out of our front doors, much of what we see is built or maintained by local government: Roads, sewers, parks, playgrounds. We rely on our police, firefighters and municipal crews to protect us and our homes, and to keep things working.
Serious decisions require serious candidates, committed to the municipalities they are seeking to serve.
