Nomination information compiled by non-profit group CivicInfo BC shows 37 mayoral candidates automatically won after the nomination period closed on Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. Among them were Burnaby Mayor Mike Harley and Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West, both of whom won second terms. West says his unopposed victory was not what he expected and that he was prepared for a full campaign before Election Day on Oct. 15. He says it’s hard to speculate why no other candidates put their names forward this time, but he’s “incredibly proud” of what his city has achieved over the past four years. “We’ve delivered significant investment in recreational amenities to the city,” he told Gloria Macarenko, host of CBC’s On The Coast. “It’s the largest capital project our city has ever undertaken — we delivered it on time, on budget; it was extremely well received.” West also boasts that his municipality has the third-lowest average property tax in the Metro Vancouver area and its first climate change plan that focuses on creating alternatives to commuting by vehicle. On The Coast10:23For the first time in Port Coquitlam’s history, their mayor has been recognized For the first time in Port Coquitlam’s history, its mayor has been recognized. Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West can now coast on the campaign trail if he wants to. He’s speaking with us from the Association of British Columbia Municipalities Conference in Whistler. Like West, Barbara Rhoden won her second term as Ashcroft mayor by a landslide. She says many people have come up to her with congratulations and she can’t wait to see who wins the four parliamentary seats in her borough next month. “Whoever ends up comes [and] taking one of those four seats, it will be a great council moving forward,” he said. Barbara Roden won a second term as Ashcroft mayor by a landslide. (Tom Popyk/CBC) Daybreak Kamloops5:08 Barbara Roden has been named mayor of Ashcroft Barbara Roden will be the mayor of Ashcroft for another term. Sheri Disney automatically won the mayoral race in Masset on Haida Gwaii and is set to replace incumbent Barry Pages. A member of the Haida Nation, Disney is the first indigenous person to take the top village post. The mayor-elect says she feels her win helps inspire others in her community to run for public office. And she remains humble: “I’m excited, and I’m also very aware of all the things I don’t know.” Sheri Disney won the mayoral election in Masset on Haida Gwaii by a landslide, becoming the village’s first indigenous woman to take the top spot. (Sheri Disney, EXP, Haida Gwaii Specialist/Facebook)
Mayors who won by acclamation
It’s not unusual for mayors to win by a landslide, and CivicInfo BC executive director Todd Pugh says that in 2018, 36 B.C. mayors won. were elected without a contest. Here’s the full list of BC mayors who won by unanimous vote this year:
Dennis Buchanan, Alert Bay. Joe Craner, Armstrong. Barbara Roden, Ashcroft. Ward Stamer, Barriere. Mike Hurley, Burnaby. Ryan Windsor, Central Saanich. Ruth Hoyte, Coldstream. Nicole Minions, Comox. Michelle Staples, Duncan. Sarah Storey, Fraser Lake. Steve Morissette, Fruitvale. Linda McGuire, Granisle. Ken Williams, Highlands. Shane Brienen, Houston. Allen Miller, Invermere. Maureen Pinkney, 100 Mile House. Sylvia Pranger, Kent. Don McCormick, Kimberly. Phil Germuth, Kitimat. Aaron Stone, Ladysmith. Sheri Disney, Masset. Alan Raine, Municipality of Mountain Resort. Tom Zeleznik, Nakusp. Kevin Murdoch, Oak Bay. Martin Johansen, Oliver. Nicole MacDonald, Pitt Meadows. Scott Cabianca, Port Clements. Brad West, Port Coquitlam. Mark Baker, Sayward. Cliff McNeil-Smith, Sidney. Colin Ferguson, Silverton. Christine Fraser, Spallumcheen. Sean Bujtas, Porch. Dan Law, Tofino. Owen Torgerson, Valemount. Ed Coleman, Wales. Julie Colborne, Zeballos.
This story was produced with financial assistance from the Meta-Canadian Press News Fellowship, which was not involved in the editorial process.
