A former mayor, who last served from 2000 to 2003, has returned to the political scene seeking out the Mayoralty in this Novembers Municipal election.
Don Scott, who lost the 2003 Mayors race in a cliff hanger to Herb Pond by 26 votes, announced his candidacy on Monday urged on by friends to try and reclaim the office he once held.
The chartered accountant and co founding partner of the former firm of Scott,Vohara and Company, has been involved in politics on the North coast on many levels over the years.
Don Scott, who lost the 2003 Mayors race in a cliff hanger to Herb Pond by 26 votes, announced his candidacy on Monday urged on by friends to try and reclaim the office he once held.
The chartered accountant and co founding partner of the former firm of Scott,Vohara and Company, has been involved in politics on the North coast on many levels over the years.
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At one time he was considered as a potential candidate for federal politics and since those days he has sat on a variety of boards and panels in the years since his exit from municipal politics.
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Included in his resume of late, is a position on the board of Northern Savings, a member of the federal panel examining the issue off shore oil development (which as we see here and here proved to be a tad controversial with environmental groups), a property developer and as an international sales consultant for Takeda Trading.
In an article in Monday’s Daily News he touched on the recent conflict of interest controversy that has highlighted the last month and half of City Hall news and perhaps will find that lost 26 vote margin, from the concerned citizens group which has been following the hiring issue with much interest of late.
He so far is the only declared candidate for Mayor, with many local political observers waiting to see what the intentions of current Mayor Herb Pond are. So far there hasn’t been any indication if the Mayor is inclined to seek another term of office, or if he has other plans in his future whether they are in, or out of politics.
For now Mr. Scott is the first in the race in 2008, what remains to be seen is if he will be in first place on the ballot tallies when the votes are counted on November 15th.
The Daily News outlined his plans for his run for office as the front page, headline story in Tuesday’s paper.
FORMER RUPERT MAYOR CLIMBS BACK INTO THE RACE
Don Scott files his papers to once again run for Prince Rupert Mayor
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
In an article in Monday’s Daily News he touched on the recent conflict of interest controversy that has highlighted the last month and half of City Hall news and perhaps will find that lost 26 vote margin, from the concerned citizens group which has been following the hiring issue with much interest of late.
He so far is the only declared candidate for Mayor, with many local political observers waiting to see what the intentions of current Mayor Herb Pond are. So far there hasn’t been any indication if the Mayor is inclined to seek another term of office, or if he has other plans in his future whether they are in, or out of politics.
For now Mr. Scott is the first in the race in 2008, what remains to be seen is if he will be in first place on the ballot tallies when the votes are counted on November 15th.
The Daily News outlined his plans for his run for office as the front page, headline story in Tuesday’s paper.
FORMER RUPERT MAYOR CLIMBS BACK INTO THE RACE
Don Scott files his papers to once again run for Prince Rupert Mayor
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Pages one and three
On Monday morning former mayor don Scott threw his hat in to the ring for the local Mayoral race.
Scott was to officially sign his candidate papers at City Hall and said he was prodded back in to running for the city’s top job.
“I’ve been asked by a lot of friends of mine over the years and many more in recent months,” said Scott regarding whey he was coming back after a five year absence from municipal politics.
Scott had been Mayor of Prince Rupert from 2000 to 2003.
He lost out on a voting recount after both he and current Mayor Herb Pond finished too close to call on the first ballot count. Eventually Pond slipped by with a vote total of 2,020 votes versus 1,994.
The current mayor, who is deliberating whether or not to run again in this year’s municipal election said that Scott laid a good foundation for his own term as mayor.
“He served this community well for three years,” said incumbent herb Pond. “Obviously I thought I could bring something else to the job and that’s why I decided to run against him and he certainly understands what the job takes and I certainly wish him all the best.”
The previous defeat has clearly not turned the former mayor off as he is keenly anticipating another go at a mayoral election race.
“For three years I enjoyed the job a lot and I think I can bring that experience back to council,” said Scott.
Scott said that recent issues regarding city management and conflicts of interests were of a concern to him.
“I have been concerned about some of the recent goings-on (at city hall) and so I do think there needs to be more communication between council and leadership and that is why I want to run,” said Scott.
He added that there are other things that he would like to see addressed as well such as revitalizing the downtown core, the ongoing issues over the city possibly having to take over the pulp mill again, and economic development issues like the potash facility on Ridley Island, and phase two of the container port.
“And I am concerned about local tourism.
“We’ve lost one cruise ship and so I’d like it to be seen what can be done there,” said Scott.
“There are lots of issues and challenges to be dealt with here and as a lifetime resident here I do know what goes on in city hall.”
City council elections will be held on November 15.
On Monday morning former mayor don Scott threw his hat in to the ring for the local Mayoral race.
Scott was to officially sign his candidate papers at City Hall and said he was prodded back in to running for the city’s top job.
“I’ve been asked by a lot of friends of mine over the years and many more in recent months,” said Scott regarding whey he was coming back after a five year absence from municipal politics.
Scott had been Mayor of Prince Rupert from 2000 to 2003.
He lost out on a voting recount after both he and current Mayor Herb Pond finished too close to call on the first ballot count. Eventually Pond slipped by with a vote total of 2,020 votes versus 1,994.
The current mayor, who is deliberating whether or not to run again in this year’s municipal election said that Scott laid a good foundation for his own term as mayor.
“He served this community well for three years,” said incumbent herb Pond. “Obviously I thought I could bring something else to the job and that’s why I decided to run against him and he certainly understands what the job takes and I certainly wish him all the best.”
The previous defeat has clearly not turned the former mayor off as he is keenly anticipating another go at a mayoral election race.
“For three years I enjoyed the job a lot and I think I can bring that experience back to council,” said Scott.
Scott said that recent issues regarding city management and conflicts of interests were of a concern to him.
“I have been concerned about some of the recent goings-on (at city hall) and so I do think there needs to be more communication between council and leadership and that is why I want to run,” said Scott.
He added that there are other things that he would like to see addressed as well such as revitalizing the downtown core, the ongoing issues over the city possibly having to take over the pulp mill again, and economic development issues like the potash facility on Ridley Island, and phase two of the container port.
“And I am concerned about local tourism.
“We’ve lost one cruise ship and so I’d like it to be seen what can be done there,” said Scott.
“There are lots of issues and challenges to be dealt with here and as a lifetime resident here I do know what goes on in city hall.”
City council elections will be held on November 15.
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