Earlier this year, the City of Duncan went through a divisive, and very expensive, Amalgamation Referendum which was conclusively settled on 23 June 2018 by a resounding No vote from Duncan voters. But although this Amalgamation Referendum was settled nearly four months ago the effects of the Amalgamation campaign are still on the minds of Duncan voters.
As I campaign door to door around Duncan, the first two questions I am most commonly asked by voters are:
- Do you live in Duncan?; and
- How did you vote on Amalgamation?
Clearly the Amalgamation Referendum is still on the minds of Duncan voters. Both of these questions are very valid and I have to admit that they are also the first two questions I ask of any candidates currently running for Mayor of Duncan or for Duncan Council.
So, for the information of Duncan voters, let’s go through the list of current candidates for Duncan Mayor and Council and show the answers to the two questions above: What was your position on Amalgamation?; and, Do you live in Duncan?.
Let’s start with the Candidates for Mayor of Duncan (in alphabetical order by surname):
Martin BARKER
- Was in favour of Amalgamation
- Lives in Duncan; has a business in Duncan
- Registered on Duncan Voters List
Daniel HELMER
- Position on Amalgamation not known
- Lives in Cowichan Bay
- His name does not appear in the Duncan Resident Voters List or the Duncan Non-Resident Property Electors List (which lists non-resident property owners who are allowed to vote in Duncan)
Sharon JACKSON
- Against Amalgamation. [Note: Sharon Jackson also led the No Amalgamation campaign through Cowichan No Amalgamation, which was registered with ElectionsBC. Disclaimer: I volunteered on the Cowichan No Amalgamation campaign]
- Lives in the CVRD [note: Sharon lived in Duncan until December 2017 when she moved to the CVRD. She has told me she plans to move back to Duncan in the near future]
- Her name does not appear in the Duncan Resident Voters List or the Duncan Non-Resident Property Electors List (which lists non-resident property owners who are allowed to vote in Duncan)
Michelle STAPLES
- Against Amalgamation
- Lives in North Cowichan
- Her name does not appear in the Duncan Resident Voters List or the Duncan Non-Resident Property Electors List (which lists non-resident property owners who are allowed to vote in Duncan)
Now for the candidates for City of Duncan Council (in alphabetical order by surname):
Mark ANDERSON
[Disclaimer: this website is run by Mark Anderson]
- Against Amalgamation [note: actively campaigned against Amalgamation online and with Sharon’s Jackson’s Cowichan No Amalgamation campaign]
- Lives in Duncan, has business based in Duncan
- Registered on Duncan Voters List
Bob BROOKE
- Against Amalgamation
- Lives in Duncan
- Registered on Duncan Voters List
Garry F. BRUCE
- In favour of Amalgamation.
- Lives In Duncan
- Registered on Duncan Voters List
Roger BRUCE
Note: Incumbent Councillor
- In favour of Amalgamation and actively campaigned in favour of Amalgamation with the Cowichan Pro Amalgamation campaign
- Lives in North Cowichan, co-owns property in Duncan
- His name does not appear in the Duncan Resident Voters List or the Duncan Non-Resident Property Electors List (which lists non-resident property owners who are allowed to vote in Duncan)
Jenni CAPPS
- Against Amalgamation
- Lives in Duncan
- Registered on Duncan Voters List
Tom DUNCAN
Note: Incumbent Councillor
- Against Amalgamation [note: actively campaigned against Amalgamation online and volunteered with Sharon’s Jackson’s Cowichan No Amalgamation campaign
- Lives In Duncan
- Registered on Duncan Voters List
Gordon HEPPELL
- Against Amalgamation
- Lives in North Cowichan, owns a business in downtown Duncan and manages the Cowichan Merchants Building in downtown Duncan
- His name does not appear in the Duncan Resident Voters List or the Duncan Non-Resident Property Electors List (which lists non-resident property owners who are allowed to vote in Duncan)
Lura McCALLUM
- In favour of Amalgamation
- Lives in North Cowichan, co-owns a commercial building in downtown Duncan
- Her name does not appear in the Duncan Resident Voters List or the Duncan Non-Resident Property Electors List (which lists non-resident property owners who are allowed to vote in Duncan)
Stacy MIDDLEMISS
- Against Amalgamation
- Lives in North Cowichan
- Her name does not appear in the Duncan Resident Voters List or the Duncan Non-Resident Property Electors List (which lists non-resident property owners who are allowed to vote in Duncan)
George NEILSON
- In favour of Amalgamation and actively campaigned for Cowichan Pro Amalgamation, including many online posts arguing in favour of Amalgamation
- Lives in North Cowichan
- His name does not appear in the Duncan Resident Voters List or the Duncan Non-Resident Property Electors List (which lists non-resident property owners who are allowed to vote in Duncan)
Carol NEWINGTON
- In favour of Amalgamation
- Lives in Duncan
- Registered on Duncan Voters List
Glen SANTICS
- Against Amalgamation
- Lives in Duncan
- His name does not appear in the Duncan Resident Voters List or the Duncan Non-Resident Property Electors List (which lists non-resident property owners who are allowed to vote in Duncan) although I know he lives in Duncan.
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