Incumbent Councilor Ben Isitt announced yesterday his intention to run for re-election on Victoria’s city council and the Capital Region District board of directors.
Isitt says he can bring experience to the table, especially considering that he could be sitting on a city council that is entirely new and inexperienced.
“My top priority is affordable housing,” Isitt told Victoria Buzz.
“To achieve this we need to acquire land and create partnerships with co-ops, non-profits and government agencies.”
His second priority is to give a voice to climate action on the city council. Specifically, he wants the City of Victoria to implement fare-free transit.
Youths below the age of 19 ride transit for free in the city. Ben Isitt plans to bring that same opportunity for free transit to senior citizens and low-income residents.
In a media release, Isitt stated that he strongly considered running for mayor, but he decided that he could more easily balance his role as City Councilor with his professional work in law focused on social justice and environmental issues.
For this election, councilors Sharmarke Dubow, Charlayne Thornton-Joe, Jeremy Loveday and Geoff Young said they would not be seeking re-election.
Isitt’s colleague Sarah Potts has not yet declared her intentions in the coming election.
Mayor Lisa Helps will also not be running in the coming election.
Current Councilors Marianne Alto and Stephen Andrew are running to be the city’s next mayor.
Related:
Former Victoria city council member Chris Coleman announces his intention to return
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps announces she will not seek re-election in 2022
