6 — Wednesday, November 12, 1986 - North Shore News

_» Mews Viewpoint

Deeds, not words

his Saturday's civic elections in

North Van

District and, espeically, in West Van are of more than usual importance.

In each case they will choose the councils and school boards entrusted with poverning the municipality; and its schools for the next two years. In cach case there are two candidates for every council seat. And the four North Van School Board seats are being fought over by no fess than 10 contenders, including only a single

incumbent.

In North Van there is at least one element of stabili- ty and continuity in Mayor Marilyn Baker, returned for a third term by acclamation, West Van, on the contrary, is witnessing its hardest fought mayoral bat- tle in years, with the quality of the community's lead- ership for the next yeurs at stake.

As in any election, the hustings can be depended upon to generate more heat than light. Our own views on whom to elect are simpte. STUDY THE RECORD,

Acquaint yourself as fully as possible with what the

candidate

has setually DONE for his or her com-

munity — not merely talked about doing in the future. Isn't that the way any sensible employer interviews job

seekers?

At the same time, a certain amount of new blood is valuable — though unless there are strong reasons otherwise, the transfusion is usually better at the bot- tom than the top. A fresh face or two on council or school board n vy reveal hidden vold after the appren- ticeship. Meanwhile, they can't do too much harm.

Saturday is YOUR day.

Test candidates for what

they are — for their deeds, not their words. Hf you let yourself be hoodwinked by mere clever, empty talk, you'll have to live with it until 1989,

Facts vs. fancy in West Van

THE SOLE ISSUE in the tough election battle between West Vancouver Mayor Derrick Humphreys and challenger Don Lanskail boils down to personality.

During his eight years in office, the mayor has inevitably made a few enemies. The old saying about making omelettes and breaking eggs obviously applies, as in the case of any strong, energetic lead- er. ;

Certainly, nobody has ever: ac- cused Humphreys of being wishy-washy or indecisive. His lifetime background has been that of a man of action, a doer rather than a debater, with his own firm concepts of right and wrong.

He’s been described as “‘abrasive’’, though many West Van citizens who have brought their individual problems to him personally would likely disagree. He puts a premium on hard work, efficiency and loyalty, And, ad- mittedly, he doesn’! suffer fools or knaves gladly.

Lanskail, who admits that ‘*style’’ is the only major issuc, is cast in a totally different mould.

A lawyer by training, with 31 years as a top labor negotiator for the B.C. forest industry, his natu- ral instinct is to take action only after seeking consensus based on exhaustive analysis and consulta- tion. A debater first, a doer se- cond, is the message one clearly gets from his campaign pro- nouncements.

As a West Van alderman for 20 years until 1982, he made solid contributions to the development of the municipality we know today——especially in the concept and building of its beloved Seawalk.

In other ways, too, Lanskail is obviously an exemplary citizen. But to claim that this and his earlier council record qualify him to do a better job than Humphreys has done since 1979 is questionable on two counts by any intelligent, objective observer.

SATISFIED 94% Firstly, of course, there’s Hum- phreys’ own eight-year record.

Compared to numerous other Lower Mainland municipalities, day-to-day life in West Van is a model of smooth efficiency.

Taxes have been held in line. Roads, garbage disposal and other utility services are well maintained. Police and fire departments rank among the best in B.C. So, for the size of the population, do parks and recreation facilities—soon to be supplemented by a new arts centre. And a seniors’ activity cen- tre envied across Canada is only one aspect of the attention paid by city hall to the welfare and housing of West Van's growing army of the aged.

These are FACTS, not fancy. The latest municipal survey, con- ducted by an independent polling firm, found some 94 per cent of West Vancouverites ‘satisfied’? or ‘very satisfied’? with current municipal services. Presumably

JHE VOICE OF WORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER

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that means they think the Hum- phreys council is delivering as promised.

SUBSTANCE LACKING

On these vital bread-and-butter matters affecting every citizen every day Lanskail’s campaign has been notably lacking in substance. He’s certainly given no indication of how he'd tackle the difficult task of making everyday life for the average West Van resident any better than it already is.

LETTER OF THE DAY Lanskail ‘should have waited’

Dear Editor:

@ focus ©

The specific and localized ‘Gssues’ on which he attacks Humphreys appear to be equally Jacking in real substance—as, for example, his call for more ‘‘open’’ government.

All the evidence suggests that Humphreys and his council follow Municipal Act procedures, in- cluding public hearings on all con- troversial questions, to the letter. Humphreys launched the quarterly municipal newspaper that goes to every household and he appears

Fortunate indeed are we, in West Vancouver, to have the quality of civic leadership enjoyed in recent years, One only need to look to the other side of Lions Gate Bridge to compare the disharmony and inef- ficiency there with the tight ship run by our present West Vancouver Mayor Derrick Humphreys.

Where else in British Columbia, or elsewhere, have property taxes been held in line as they have here? And all the while, our roads, our police, our planning, our utilities, and our public spirit, functioning with the greatest efficiency in the Jast thirty five years.

We have an abundance of talented and dedicated persons offering themselves for public service in West Vancouver City Hall. Not the least prominent of these is our respected citizen Don Lanskail, who under any other circumstances | would be happy to campaign for. | would have hoped he might have waited for two more years in order to give Mayor Humphreys his just due. For Mayor Humphreys, many years of completely dedicated service to our community, | sincerely believe he is entitled to one more two-year term, for the honor and just reward of presiding over West Vancouver's 75th anniversary celebrations. “Time for a Change"’ is not sufficient reason to throw this good citizen out.

J do wish Don, a great guy, had had the consideration to wait for two more years. I'm for Derrick for

our 75th anniversary party. F.P. Bernard West Vancouver

Publisher: Editor-in-Chiet Managing Editor Advertising Director

Peter Speck Noel Waght Barre,’ Fisher Linda Stewart

Se tera Baregeaph il §etee

Entre contents 1986 North Shore Free Press Ltd Ali tights reserved

regularly on phone-in FY shows. And, as many can testify, he's ac- cessible daily, by phone or in per- son, to anyone with a problem.

Talks with the Squamish Band are, de facto, on hold until Ottawa passes the order-in-council forma!- ly handing back the Band’s chunk of Ambleside Park. Meanwhile, Humphreys’ gesture in giving the Indians the park for their two-day canoe regatta in early September hardly smells of bad blood.

As regards the Caulfeild Plateau mall issue, Lanskail—a party on Mayor Peter Jones’ council to the 1978 deal—claims it was always “understood'’ to be just a conve- nience store centre. ‘Understood’? Did Lanskail the lawyer omit to read the fine print on the land use contract?

And on development generally, how do you view Lanskail’s plea that he killed Humphreys’ 1980 proposed ban on all future highrises because it would have been ‘‘theft’? from potential gainers?

Humphreys has stressed that 1987-1988 would be his last term before retiring, and next year is West Van’s 75th birthday. Senti- ment and politics seldom mix but a good many West Van people I’ve talked to feel his long record of service—in addition to continuing for a final two years—has fully earned him the honor of presiding over the anniversary celebrations.

Journalists are popularly sup- posed to go through life without any friends at all. So my personal problem today is that I’ve known Humphreys for the past 28 years.

However, this column is about FACTS that you can test for yourself, which is very different from prejudice. Even if I'd never met either man, I believe those facts would stand the scrutiny of any informed, fair-minded on- looker. Whatever Humphreys’ “style’’, they suggest that West Van has a good thing going with him, and one hard to beat, for two more years.

If you agree, get out and vote Saturday. The opposition will.