Formosa edges out Alsgard

  VIDEO, UPDATED Nov 23    – City of Powell River residents have a new leader at the helm.

After serving four terms as mayor, Stewart Alsgard went down in defeat in the November 19 civic election. Preliminary results show Dave Formosa, a Powell River entrepreneur who has served one term on council, won with 52 per cent of the vote, or 2,325 votes. Alsgard had 46 per cent with 2,078 votes.

All the incumbent councillors were re-elected and newcomer Russell Brewer will be joining them, as well as former councillor Myrna Leishman.

Maggie Hathaway topped the polls with 2,812 votes. Brewer came second with 2,741 votes. Debbie Dee came third with 2,582, then Jim Palm 2,218 and Chris McNaughton 2,149. Leishman had 2,139 votes.

Scott Lukianchuk had 2,018 votes, Bill Hopkins 1,874, Gordon Crawford 1,406 and Glenn Holstine 957.

Preliminary voter turnout is 4,466, or 43 per cent of the estimated number of voters.

Formosa, who celebrated with his campaign team and family members at Shinglemill Pub and Bistro, said the results were very close. “It didn’t surprise me a lot,” he said. “I knew it would be tight.”

Formosa also said he knew a lot of the support he had in 2008 was affected by the co-treatment issue, a proposal to treat the city’s sewage at Catalyst Paper Corporation’s Powell River mill.

The highlight is that all the incumbents were returned, Formosa added. “I think we do have a mandate to carry forward and do the best we can for the whole community, all aspects of the community, not just the business side, but also Millennium Park--that we’ve worked hard on--the trails, arts, culture, an inclusive community.”

Formosa also said he’d like to see tax reform policies and make Powell River a more affordable community, as well as working hard for youth and creating stable jobs for them.

“My best wishes go out to Stewart Alsgard,” he said. “He gave it a very, very, very good fight and we owe him 12 years of good work and congratulations.”

Formosa, who was also the president of Powell River Chamber of Commerce, has resigned from that position.

Alsgard said he accepted the results. “I’m delighted that they’re all in finally and good luck to the new councillor and the new mayor-elect.”

Hathaway was thrilled that she had the most votes of anyone. “I’m just over the top,” she said. “I never really expected that.”

She added that she was truly grateful. “I hope I can accomplish everything that I said I would accomplish in the next three years. I intend to work really, really hard for you and I’m just ecstatic.”

Brewer was also happy that he had the second highest number of votes. “I was really pleased with the results,” he said. “I think my vision of Powell River really resonated with a lot of people and a lot of the people who voted share that vision.”

During the campaign, Brewer said his vision was of a healthy, vibrant, culturally diverse, respectful and sustainable community. He also said research has consistently indicated that three areas--arts and culture activities, openness and diversity and the availability of parks, playgrounds and trails--are important to people. He thinks the results show people would like to see a bit more focus on those areas, Brewer said. “Given the turnout, I’m hoping that is reflected in the work we do together as a council now,” he said.

While he focused on arts and culture, bikes and trails in his campaign, he has a good background in business and finance, Brewer added. “I’ll be a helpful team member there, I think,” he said. “I look forward to working with the rest of council and hopefully it will be a positive, constructive and respectful environment to work in. I think it will be.”

Dee said she was happy with the results. “I believe that this is a bunch of people who will be able to work together for the betterment of the city and I’m very excited. It’s going to be a real good team.”

Palm said the results were an exciting opportunity. “We have a dynamic team, in my opinion,” he said. “With the mandate that we’ve been given to access members of the community through the committee model, I believe that’s going to be a real benefit for everybody, to pick the best minds of our entire community and really put some great action plans in place.” Many of the elected councillors said they favoured returning to a committee structure, as opposed to a portfolio structure.

Palm also said he was grateful to everyone who voted. “As I said in my campaign, the people always get it right. That’s the way I’m feeling right now. I look forward to working on their behalf for the next three years.”

McNaughton congratulated everyone who was elected. “I think the challenge now is to concentrate on the economy, jobs and all of the other social responsibilities that we have,” he said. “I’m looking forward to spending another three years working with the community and working with a very good council.”

Leishman expressed gratitude to everyone who voted. “It’s been a traumatic couple of weeks and I’m hoping that everybody gets to work and moves forward,” she said.

In Electoral Area B of Powell River Regional District, incumbent Stan Gisborne defeated challenger Kim Barton-Bridges, who ran on a zoning platform for the rural area. Gisborne had 190 votes to Barton-Bridges’ 162.

Gisborne said he was surprised that he won. “Kim put on a great campaign,” he said. “I was beginning to wonder what opposition to zoning was out there.”

But with the win and the turnout, which was double any turnout in the past, Gisborne said it’s clear people are opposed to zoning. “I started going door-to-door and it was pretty obvious that people were happy with what was going on right now. They really didn’t want any zoning.”

An exception, Gisborne said, is the Traffe Road area, which should be zoned because it is a high-density area.

After 24 years as the area’s representative, Gisborne said he decided to seek re-election to finish revising the OCP (official community plan), to ensure it recognizes existing uses. Businesses that are light industry are not recognized, but they should be, Gisborne said, because they provide employment. As well, businesses reduce residential taxes because they pay two-and-a-half times the rate that residential property owners pay. “You should encourage light industry and small businesses,” he said. “That’s all that’s happening out here now. You’re not going to get industry. Powell River is not going to get a major industry.”

On Lasqueti Island, incumbent Merrick Anderson easily won over challenger Timothy Peterson. Anderson had 159 votes while Peterson had 39.

Powell River’s new council will be sworn in on Tuesday, December 6. The inaugural meeting is scheduled for 7 pm in the Cedar Room at Powell River Recreation Complex.