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NNN’s top 5 of 2018: Nanaimo voters respond to four years of municipal mayhem

Dec 28, 2018 | 1:48 PM

NANAIMO — Disaster, circus, train-wreck.

Just a few of the phrases used to sum up a bulk of the four-year reign at Nanaimo City Hall which thankfully expired Oct. 20, 2018.

We’re all too familiar with the charade — constant in-fighting among council members and complete chaos at the senior management level were well documented — at the expense of the entire community.

A positive spin-off of a disastrous term was increased interest in local politics. The same people who complained changes were needed put their names on the ballot.

There were 40 council candidates to choose from, among the most in the entire province.

Former longtime MLA Leonard Krog easily won the race to head the council table and sit as mayor.

Just two incumbent councillors (Ian Thorpe and Sheryl Armstrong) made the cut for the new-look nine-member council.

Three other councillors from the previous controversial regime were soundly rejected by voters.

A record-breaking turnout of nearly 41 per cent of eligible voters made their voices heard. There was a palpable sense of excitement at a City-hosted event to view election results, with an almonst celebratory environment greeting the results.

People had enough. The electorate lost confidence in our local leaders — they wanted change and got it.

A municipal election is a legitimate top story every four years and for good reason. Local lawmakers undeniably have the biggest impact on our day-to-day lives. While senior levels of government play a role in how our community functions, nothing has the ability to alter our reality like a municipal council .

The province isn’t picking up your trash and the feds don’t facilitate building downtown condo towers.

Running a City the size of Nanaimo is hard enough with a civil council working cooperatively with staff. You’d think it would be common sense that when personal vendettas supersede the public’s interest the results aren’t good.

As big of a story as the 2018 municipal election in Nanaimo was, more headlines will follow.

A daunting task lies ahead for this untested council.

While an experienced leader is at the helm, mayor Krog’s team will be filled with many challenges.

For starters, tax rates are slated to go up in the range of five per cent in 2019, while user rates are also increasing.

Calls for increased services are ever-present.

Embarrassing City Hall theatrics appear to have faded, but interest level and expectations from the public certainly hasn’t.

 

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes