As of Thursday (Oct. 6), the count stood at 14.
That's how many Squamish residents have declared their intentions to run for the six municipal council seats in next month's municipal elections, while Coun. Rob Kirkham stands as the solo contender for the mayor's seat.
Candidate Ron Sander has had an extensive career in the lumber and marine terminal businesses, while Peter Kent hails from the film industry. Both Squamish residents announced their intention to run for Squamish council on Friday (Sept. 30).
Sander has lived in Squamish for 15 years. The father of two sons and a stepdaughter originally worked as the manager for Interfor Squamish Lumber. After the sawmill closed, and after a five-year stint as the Resort Municipality of Whistler's manager of operations leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Sander now works at Neptune Terminals in North Vancouver.
If elected, Sander said he would take the Squamish Oceanfront development off the district's table. Sander said he fears the municipality will end up selling the prime land in parcels to residential developers simply to cover mounting costs.
The district could instead turn the land into a port corporation, allowing the property to be leased to port-oriented businesses. That would not only provide construction jobs, but unlike residential units, would maintain work opportunities as companies grow, Sander said. In addition, if the Squamish district leases out the land, rather than sell it, the district would be able to continually make a profit off of it, he noted.
On similar-sized land in North Vancouver, Neptune Terminals is the city's largest employer - with more than 250 people on its payroll - and contributes hundreds of thousands toward the community, Sander said.
"Residential development doesn't provide jobs," he said.
Although Sander said he supports the adventure and recreational tourism industries, they just haven't created the work Squamish was hoping for. People have had to leave town, and residential and commercial buildings have been left vacant.
"I don't see the plan that is in place changing that," Sander said.
Kent moved to Squamish five years ago. "I came up here, took one look and we bought our house," the father of two-year-old twin boys said.
The North Vancouver native worked as Arnold Schwarzenegger's stunt double in 14 movies. He is also the creator of the awarding-winning TV series Stuntdawgs and, last year, founded the first stunt school in Western Canada.
Squamish is at a tipping point and can't continue down the same old path if it hopes to be a sustainable economy, Kent warned. Business picked up during the 2010 Olympics, but local politicians didn't seem to have a plan to keep that momentum going, Kent said.
He wants to see the district put together ready-to-go marketing packages for different industry sectors, which would include information such as tax incentives and properties available.
Many Lower Mainland municipalities have such advertising kits for the film industry, Kent said. Squamish was recently beaten out by Aldergrove as a location to film a television series featuring a small town recovering from the recession, he noted. People in the industry told him Aldergrove was selected because the municipality was more prepared, he noted.
"This town has to fight for itself to stay alive," Kent said.
With approximately 4 million people travelling up Highway 99 each year, Squamish has to draw more people into downtown, he said. Projects, such as the Sea to Sky Gondola, will aid in attaining that goal, Kent noted.
Like anyone, Kent admits he doesn't have all the answers to fix the local economy. If Squamish ends up with a more transparent council and politicians willing to seek residents' views, it's a good first step, he said.
"We can't be business as usual anymore," he said.
Balvinder Biring has been as resident of Squamish for nine years. The community sits on the cusp of change, Biring said, which motivated him to enter the council race.
"I think that this is an important time," he said.
With a background in forestry, the father of one son stressed that job creation should be a top priority. This, he said, goes hand-in-hand with transit.
"Transit is key for promoting and building business," Biring noted.
The municipality needs to find localized transportation solutions to meet needs within the community and those of commuters to the south and north. Open communication between politicians, organizations and residents has to take place to find working solutions, Biring noted.
Biring has been involved with municipal committees throughout his time in Squamish, including the Forestry and Industrial Land Strategy Advisory Committee. Biring also volunteers his time with various organizations - the Squamish Rotary Club, coaching a Squamish Youth Soccer team and coordinating the Squamish Punjabi School.
His involvement with those groups has helped prime him for a role on council, Biring said, as does his experience with his current job as a practices forester in the Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources Operations' Squamish office.
"I am very much involved in the community," he said. "I can make a contribution to Squamish. I strongly believe this."
Long-time Squamish resident Eric Andersen threw his name into the candidacy ring partly out of frustration.
"I must admit to impatience with aspects of the district land-use planning and economic strategy, although some good efforts are being made," he said.
The research and communications consultant told The Chief he has taken part in a number of live and on-line discussions about the issues facing the community and was hooked.
"I think I can generate good discussion," Andersen said. "There are a whole lot of good candidates. This is going to be an important election."
Squamish must decide what it wants to become and for whom, he said. There are still many residents who came to town in the booming forestry days, while a flurry of younger families and commuters also call Squamish home, he noted. A collaboration of the two could help the town find a future direction, Andersen said.
"We can get insight from the new and experience from the old," he said.
Andersen has served on various district working groups, task forces and committees, including the Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee. With that and a background in forestry, wood products and transportation industries, Andersen said he has a broad "local knowledge."
The unbalanced jobs-to-housing ratio is the biggest challenge facing Squamish right now, he added. The district needs to roll up its sleeves and get to work.
"It is up to us to avoid becoming just a commuter suburb," Andersen said. "It is not a necessary fate."
Developer Ted Prior has also been reported as having declared his candidacy for council. The Chief was unable to contact him for comment. Previously declared candidates for Squamish council include incumbents Bryan Raiser, Patricia Heintzman and Doug Race and newcomers Susan Chapelle, Phil Audet, Nate Dolha, Brad Hodge, Rob Weys and Douglas Neville. Coun. Rob Kirkham is so far the only declared candidate for mayor. The nomination period for the Nov. 19 election runs from Oct. 4 to 14.
