Now that things are settling down since the start of 2022, the realization will soon emerge that it’s another election year if it hasn’t already.
This will only be the fourth one in a row so we should be getting used to the constant election banter at one level or another by now.
Municipal elections in 2018 were followed by a federal election in 2019, the provincial election in 2020, another federal election in 2021 and now the four years have passed to make 2022 the time for the next installment of North Cowichan municipal and Cowichan Valley Regional District elections.
This might not normally get mentioned this soon since the elections aren’t until October, but North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring got the ball rolling with his announcement that he won’t be seeking re-election.
You’ll recall in the last elections of 2018 there was a three-horse race among Siebring and Joyce Behnsen, councillors at the time, and then-Mayor Jon Lefebure. The result came down to the wire, with Siebring winning by a couple of handfuls of votes over runner-up Lefebure.
Related story: Al Siebring new mayor of North Cowichan
Now with Siebring taking his name off the ballot, you have to wonder who’s going to step forward and challenge for that role.
Will Behnsen give it another shot? Will Lefebure resurface again? The latter seems unlikely with Lefebure returning to his construction enterprises and seemingly happy in that role.
But you never know what can happen in politics and we expect there will now be announcements throughout the year as current councillors weigh their options and other prominent citizens consider coming out of the woodwork.
It would make sense for someone with councillor experience to assume the mayor’s duties. It would be difficult for someone to step right in and take on that demanding job, especially in North Cowichan.
All we can do is wait and see what transpires. But with Siebring’s early announcement, it might get many people thinking earlier than usual about running.
It’s a very complex time for North Cowichan in so many ways and whoever thinks they’re mayor material will have to be ready to face a heavy burden and plenty of potential unpopular decisions.
