The race for mayor of Parksville is officially off and running with the addition of Rick Honaizer as the fourth and final candidate on closing day last Friday.
Honaizer has lived in Parksville since 1988 and said he has been active in the community for much of the last couple decades, especially around high school football which he helped bring to the area.
The ticketed wall and ceiling installer has owned his own business, been an active volunteer firefighter and has been involved with provincial NDP as a volunteer over the years but has never run for office himself.
He said he’s running for mayor instead of council because that would give him a better chance to give his overall vision for the city and shape its direction.
As for that vision, he said a key is to complete the city’s waterfront, including the boardwalk along the bay as well as resort developments.
He said while he accepts waterfront existing developments, he wouldn’t want to any new ones to block any views of the water.
He suggested that should be easy enough with the hill rising above potential beach front projects where he’d like to see “something that fits more with the landscape, we could do it in a way to not lose any views,” he said adding “there could be a plaza on top.”
He said completion would be marked by “all the fences being taken down and all of the temporary accommodation like RV parks,” being replaced with permanent resorts.
His priorities as mayor would be a freeze on taxes and building a proper football field.
He said the city set aside $100,000 for the Ballenas sports field when football first came to the area, but they still don’t have a proper facility.
He would like to see a running track, permanent stands and announcer’s box, he said pointing out they might be able to get a track donated as has happened elsewhere.
He would also like to bringing in a big event like the BC Summer Games like Port Alberni did in the early 1990s.
He would also eliminate the consumption tax on water, since he said there is no shortage of water in the area it’s just an additional tax burden.
Honaizer is running in the Nov. 19 municipal election against acting mayor Chris Burger, former MLA Paul Reitsma and Antonio Farinha.