Cop out: former VicPD chief Del Manak not running for mayor

Back in January, four months after retiring as VicPD’s chief constable, Del Manak put out some feelers about running for Victoria mayor.

“I met with some key political players who kind of know local politics and whatnot, and I’ve been asked if I would seriously consider throwing my hat in for the mayor of the City of Victoria,” he told CHEK News at the time.

He said he’d make that decision known in four weeks. It took a little longer than that, but on Wednesday, the 33-year police veteran posted his answer.

“After careful reflection and many thoughtful conversations with community members, colleagues, and those closest to me, I have decided that I will not be running for mayor,” he said.

“It wasn’t an easy decision, but I want to focus my energy on other opportunities where I feel I add value outside of politics,” Manak posted.

He elaborated offline, telling CHEK News that he does everything at 100%, and he didn’t think he could keep up that pace as mayor.

“So, I take these positions seriously, and my heart’s not in it to the point where I can provide that level of commitment [and] sacrifice that's required,” he told CHEK.

Manak said while he was considering a Victoria mayoral run, residents in Saanich approached him about running there, but he felt it would be doing a “disservice” to the community to get into something that his heart wasn’t in.

Six months before the Oct. 17 municipal elections, at least five Greater Victoria municipalities are guaranteed to have new mayors come this fall. Victoria isn't one of them.

Marianne Alto has said she plans to seek another term. Business owner Melissa Cseszko is the sole person to announce their candidacy to run against her.

Things are wide open in Saanich. In February, Dean Murdock announced he’s not running because he wants to spend more time with his family, and on Wednesday, Karen Harper, a three-term councillor, said she wants to succeed him.

“I offer my experience not only as a councillor but as a former senior vice president and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of a provincial Crown corporation,” said the former teacher, who worked for the BC Pension Corporation.

“Over the next few months, I will meet with residents and local businesses in every corner of Saanich, to hear your ideas on how, together, we can build a Saanich that works for everyone,” she said.

In Esquimalt, Barb Desjardins announced last October her intention to step aside after 18 years as mayor and 21 in total on the council. Desjardins said it was time to “make room for a new generation of voices.”

Earlier this month, Coun. Meagan Brame, who has served four consecutive terms, over 14 years, was the first and thus far the only candidate for the job.

Greater Victoria mayors not seeking re-election:

• Dean Murdock, Saanich
• Barb Desjardins, Esquimalt
• Sid Tobias, View Royal
• Maja Tait, Sooke
• Ryan Windsor, Central Saanich

Six of eight councillors in Saanich have said they’ll run again, with Zac de Vries and Mena Westhaver yet to announce their intentions.

So far, five Victoria councillors have said they want to be back, with three—Susan Kim, Krista Loughton, and Chris Coleman—publicly undecided.

In January, Coleman told Victoria Buzz that timing matters. Campaigning too early can open an active councillor “up to the allegation that his voice on council could be swayed,” he said.

“I will wait until June or July before Judith, my wife and partner, and I have the discussion about ‘what’s next,’” Coleman said.

Sidney’s Cliff McNeil-Smith, Langford’s Scott Goodmanson, Peter Jones in North Saanich, the Highlands’ Ken Williams, and Metchosin’s Marie-Terese Little have all announced they will seek another term as mayors. So has Kevin Murdoch, who will vie for a third term as mayor in Oak Bay.

Still, it would appear many Greater Victoria municipal politicians are still either thinking about it or are keeping their intentions to themselves, as we aren’t aware of any other decisions—something likely to change in the coming weeks.

Candidates aren’t officially in the race until they register with the chief electoral officer during a 10-day nomination period that begins Sept. 1.