It was weird. But when the sun rose on Oct. 16, Comox Valley voters had made it clear they liked the direction charted by our local governments. In the municipalities, they elected all but two incumbents. In most races, the vote was a definite pat on the back for a job well done.
A few random items as the 2022 election comes to a close
A few random items as the 2022 election comes to a close
By
BRONCO’S FINAL RIDE
During all the bluster and chaos of local government elections, you might have missed the announcement that Bill “Bronco” Moncrief died on Sept. 15 at Glacier View Lodge.
Recent newcomers to the Comox Valley are not likely to know Bronco, but he played a key role in shaping the community for almost a half-century. His passing should be noted.
Moncrief got his nickname because he was a fiery individual who could ignite at a moment’s notice. And it was a rough ride if you had struck the match.
He was first elected in 1967 as a Village of Cumberland Alderman and then served as mayor for more than 30 years, starting in 1969.
WHAT IS MANNO DOING IN GREECE?
Poor Manno Theos. The incumbent seeking re-election to Courtenay City Council has been maligned on social media and on this website over whether he has a serious commitment to his elected position.
For most of the last four years, Theos has lived in Nanaimo and has been absent from the full array of council member obligations. And he’s been completely absent during this election campaign, spending his time in Greece.
After photos appeared online that show him in vacation mode, which drew criticisms on social media and on Decafnation, Theos floated the idea that he was there to handle his father’s estate.
He made it sound like his father had died recently and that he was there on a somber mission that he had been prevented from carrying out because of the pandemic. He painted himself as a victim of unfair criticism.
But thanks to community sources, we have learned that Theos’ dad died four and a half years ago, two years before the pandemic. Theos has flown to Greece since his father died and before the Covid lockdown began.
So, not a recent death, plenty of time to handle affairs, a pre-Covid trip to Greece, and photos of him “vacationing.”
Meanwhile, Theos has missed the entire campaign. Maybe he didn’t want to answer questions about his residency and commitment to council work. The trip seems poorly timed for a politician seeking re-election, or maybe not.
But hanging out in Greece hasn’t stopped Theos from attacking Mayor Bob Wells and other council members on his social media pages.
And, perhaps most egregiously, Theos recently posted a negative attack on Councillor Melanie McCollum. McCollum just lost her mother to a bicycle-truck accident and is actually grieving. But no condolences from Theos who claims he’s still grieving four years later.
We hope personal integrity still matters to Courtenay voters and that they give Theos a good reason to stay in Nanaimo.
LIES AND MORE DAMN LIES
When you run for public office, you have to expect intense scrutiny of everything about you. And it helps to have a Teflon coat so that the lies and unfounded attacks never stick.
Electoral Area A Director Daniel Arbour recently issued a public statement after negative phone calls were made claiming that he was funded or controlled by the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation.
“This is crazy. My campaign expenses will be about $1,700 and it looks like a handful of residents across Area A are covering the bulk of it,” Arbour said. “I was saddened to hear from one of our elders on Hornby who had received a call and was shocked and confused by the claims and accusations made against me … Shame on the person or group who is fabricating this nonsense. If I was richer and had time on my hand, I would hire a lawyer … and sue them for defamation.”
SHADOWY RIGHT-WING GROUPS POPPING UP EVERYWHERE
Climate denial has been a stealth candidate in several BC municipal elections, according to a review by The Energy Mix and published in The Watershed Sentinel.
“When voters go to the polls, some will be able to cast their ballot for candidates running as members of a “slate” backed by elector organizations like Surrey First, founded in 2008 by a group of citizens concerned about rampant development in their community. But a number of other such civic political parties are very new on the scene, including Maple Ridge First, ParentsVoice BC, Viva Victoria, and Kelowna’s Spirit Alliance, all of which were founded in September, a review by The Energy Mix has found.”
Read the full article here.
WHERE AND WHEN TO VOTE
General Voting Day is Saturday, Oct. 15 for all local government positions.
Comox Valley Regional District
General Voting Day and advance voting take place at the CVRD building in Courtenay from 8 am to 8 pm.
Go to this link for General Voting Day locations in the three Electoral Areas.
Courtenay
General Voting Day, Saturday, October 15, 2022, 8 am to 8 pm at the Queneesh Elementary School, and at the Florence Filberg Centre.
Comox
General Voting Day runs from 8 am to 8 pm on Oct. 15 at the Comox Community Centre.
Cumberland
All voting in the Village of Cumberland takes place from 8 am to 8 pm at the Cumberland Cultural Centre.
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Let’s put one of the craziest Comox Valley elections into the history book, and then close it
Here’s the latest Comox Valley local government election results
Mayor Bob Wells and all Courtenay incumbent councillors have been re-elected. Evan Jolicoeur has also been elected. Manno Theos has lost his seat.
Jonathan Kerr, Jenn Meilleur, Steve Blacklock, Chris Haslett, Ken Grant and Maureen Swift have been elected in Comox.
Vickey Brown has been elected mayor in Cumberland, defeating long-time mayor and councillor Leslie Baird.
Voting down -20.6% in Courtenay, -22.3% in Comox and -50.9% in Cumberland.
Full results with Electoral Areas A, B and C, school board and Islands Trust results in the morning.
Daniel Arbour in Area A and Edwin Grieve in Area C won by wide margins. Richard Hardy defeated Arzeena Hamir by 23 votes.
Shannon Aldinger topped the polls in races for SD71 school trustees.
Click the headline on this page for complete results and voter turnout.
A few random items as the 2022 election comes to a close
Long-time public official Bronco Moncrief dies, Manno Theos hangs out in Greece, and Daniel Arbour reacts to lies about his campaign finances
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We dig deeper into what may have driven the darker, angry tone in this year’s municipal elections, and we shine a light on the shadowy political action groups and the Big Money players who have taken an interest in the Comox Valley
Local candidates clam up rather than speak to Comox Valley voters in public
Many Courtenay, Comox and electoral area candidates with similar ideologies have usurped the democratic process this year by declining to attend organized public forums, a huge disservice to voters
Decafnation candidate voting sheet
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Councillor Melanie McCollum’s mother dies in bicycle-truck accident in Courtenay
Anything a city can do to make our roads safer for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, children and the mobility impaired should be praised, not criticized. The rest is just nonsense from desperate candidates who run negative campaigns
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Our recommendations in the 2022 Comox Valley local government elections
Decafnation announces its list of preferred candidates in this year’s local government elections and for the first time we identify candidates that we think show promise and provide our reasons for not endorsing the other candidates. Our endorsements fall on the first day of voting at advance polls
