Choosing my “Alternate” Director

Each elected CVRD Director is required to have an “Alternate” Director for when they can’t be present at a CVRD meeting or another official duty. While the roles of campaign manager or financial agent are absolutely critical during the actual campaign, their importance ends on or shortly after election day. In contrast, the Alternate is the person who will carry on in their role for the duration of term of office of the elected Director.

Some Director candidates choose Alternates based on convenience, i.e., who they know who generally shares views on key issues who might be available. Others seem to pick Alternates based on some notion of “balance.” For example, if a candidate for Director is strong on economic issues, they may pick an Alternate based on another area of knowledge such as the environment.

My choice for Alternate is based on a simpler criterion: Who do I think is the best possible person to take on my role as the need arises. To me, this does not mean the person is my mirror image on all issues, but rather the person who I think has the critical analysis skills to evaluate policy issues as well as the morals and courage to stand firm against the inevitable pressures that may be brought to bear on Board members. I want someone that I trust, whose values are solid, and whose ability to do the right thing under pressure has been demonstrated.

For me, that person is Gary Drouillard, a Cowichan Tribe member, who tirelessly seeks to hold the Chief and Council of the Cowichan Tribes accountable to the people. It is this dedication that I feel is the same as my own: to hold elected officials in the Cowichan Valley accountable to all citizens. The key word here is accountability, and Gary embodies the concept in both his words and actions. He treats others with respect even when he disagrees with them on some issue, but his values are strongly held and his commitment to his people and indeed all of the people of this valley is rock solid.

Both Gary and I will demand accountability from all levels of government: Gary and I from the CVRD and municipal government, Gary from the Cowichan Tribes, and both of us from the province and other levels.

As Gary and I work together to demand accountability at all levels and to provide advocacy and options to increase food security, we will build bridges between all of the peoples of the Cowichan Valley who want the same.

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