Results for the Mayor's Race
6 Councillors to be elected
From page 8 of the December 4th, 1974, Daily Colonist
Reality leaves big imprint
Still, after 33 years Passmore’s an idealist
by
Lorraine Atherton
Les
Passmore has watched Saanich grow in the last 40 years, and in spite of the
municipality’s population explosion, burgeoning residential and commercial development
and attendant sewer and servicing headaches, the change that disturbs him most
is in “human nature”.
The retiring alderman, finishing his 33rd year on council, is
not on the best of terms with many Saanich homeowners. He began an explanation of their differences
with characteristic tongue-in-cheek hesitation.
“I don’t
know if I should get into this and annoy a lot of people or not.” he said.
But judging
from his grin, he doesn’t mind annoying anyone if he has a point to make.
The
76-year-old alderman was first elected to council. “In the hungry 30s. Back then people would go out of their way to
show compassion and sympathy for someone less well off – I wouldn’t say less
well off, just someone who needed help.” he said.
In those
days, people were glad to help new neighbors build homes, and some of the homes
were “the ugliest things could think of.” Passmore said. He remembered tent house (“If you were
affluent you had a fly over the tent”) and half-houses, built with one side
tar-papered so the house could be completed when money permitted.
But now
residents complain about the municipality’s attempts to ease the housing
shortage, he said, referring to he strenuous opposition of Saanich ratepayer
groups to duplex and apartment developments.
Passmore
describes the current attitude as “I’ve got mine and I’m satisfied, so why
should I worry about anyone else?”
“In the
last few months council has turned down more applications for duplexes than
it’s approved and I think that’s a sad commentar.”
Three
applications for duplexes were rejected at a public hearing presided over by
Passmore in October. He added to his
notoriety among ratepayer groups by lashing out at chauvinistic single family
dwellers during the meetings.
He just can’t
understand why some people think duplexes ruin a neighborhood.
The housing
shortage has become Passmore’s pet peeve.
In fact, not being able to help Saanich cope with the problem is his
only regret in not running for another term.
“I know we
have people living in slums, in illegal suites and attics, and Mayor Lum told
me today of six families living in one house.” he said.
He credited
the provincial and federal governments with trying to ease the shortage. Adding “I’d hate to be on a municipal council
that throws a monkey wrench into the process.”
According
to Passmore, his clash with single-family dwellers is just part of his job.
“The
alderman of today sometimes has to ignore public pressure and make what may be
an unpopular decision for the good of the whole municipality.” he said.
That wasn’t
always the case. Passmore began his
councila career when Saanich aldermen were elected by wards, but he later
helped abolish that system. The ward system bred parochialism among councillors, Passmore said, and he admitted “I was no
exception.”
Another
change that has complicated he alderman’s job is sewers. “That was about 18 years ago.” Passmore
said. “Before that we just did our job
from year to year.”
“Aldermen
have to think ahead now.” he said, because a sewer system leads to subdivision,
commercial development and more services to be provided by the municipality.
“Greater
Victoria will eventually be one big metropolis.” Passmore predicted. “This is such a delightful area you can’t
stop people from coming here. Anyone has
as much right to come here as my family did 60 years ago.”
As the
areas becomes more crowed, “municipal governments will get further from the
people.” he added. “Years ago I used to
know everyone in the Gorge area, where I live.
Now I don’t know of my own neighbors.”
He misses
the old-time community politics. “In the
30s election meetings were rousing affairs.
The halls were filled. there was controversy and they stretched on to
midnight. There was no comparison to
today’s meetings. But then we didn’t
have television in those days, to hold people at home.”
Although Passmore
estimated that the actual percentage of voters turning out to Saanich polls
hasn’t changed much, he is concerned about the lack of interest in local
politics. “Thirty-five years ago the
average ratepayers knew more about the operations of the municipality than they
do now.” he said.
Passmore
was first elected to council in 1936, from the old Ward 7.
“I really
don’t know how I got into municipal politics in the first place.” he said.
“Times were hard and everybody thought he could do a better job than the
sitting members.” His youthful idealism
has faded, he admitted, not with age, but with the realities of the Municipal
Act.
His first
term was won in surprise victory over incumbent Stanley Eden, another veteran
public servant recently honored by council.
“I’ve often
said to Eden, I can’t understand why voters charged him for me. I didn’t do the job any better than he did.”
Passmore said.
When his
last term ends this month, Passmore plans to “concentrate on senior citizens’
activities.” He is on the bopard of directors for Victoria Silver Threads.
He isn’t
sure his infatuation with municipal politics will continue after retirement,
though. “After two or three weeks I
might not even give it a thought.” he said.
But he doubted he could ever become “one of those complacent individuals
who doesn’t even bother to vote.”
Mayor
Council - 6 to be elected
Dec 12, 2020 By-election to fill the seat left vacnet after Laurel Collins was elected as the MP for Victoria in the fall 2019 federal election. Due to COVID the election was postponed and finally held on December 12th 2020
