HILLIERS — Richard de Candole intends to be a candidate in the Nov. 19 election to choose a Regional District of Nanaimo director for Area F.
De Candole is a Hilliers resident whose family ties to the area go back to 1965 when his parents retired to a farm on Slaney Road.
He and his wife Wendy and their two children moved to the farm in 1992 and continue to live on part of it.
For most of his working life he was employed as a newspaper journalist. For a 10-year period up to 2003 he was the owner-editor of the Qualicum Totem monthly newspaper. As a reporter he covered council meetings in several B.C. and Alberta communities and has a good understanding of municipal government. Since 2001 he has been a School District 69 bus driver.
He has been involved in a number of community organizations including Parksville-Qualicum 4-H, the Coombs Fair, ACES Communications Committee, Fire & Ice, Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce, Nanaimo Corrections Facility prison ministry and St. Mark’s Anglican Church.
He said he is running because he feels the wishes of voters in Area F have not been fully considered before decisions have been made.
He said there needs to be greater vigilance in protecting the rights of property owners. He wants to be an RDN director who helps individuals, businesses and community groups achieve their goals, a director who encourages initiatives for a stronger and more viable community.
De Candole is calling for small government, holding the line on taxes, advocating for businesses that attract young families, being pro-active in protecting the area’s elementary schools, advocating for farm incentives and the 100-mile diet, ensure that zoning and health ministry infractions are addressed and support for fire departments.
— Submitted