Saanich mayor-elect debriefs election with Capital Daily journalists

It's been less than a week since Saanich mayor-elect Dean Murdock beat out incumbent Mayor Fred Hayes, and he's still getting used to the new title.

"I think that's the first time I've been called mayor," he said, answering questions at 2% Jazz's warehouse in Central Saanich.

Last night, Capital Daily held its post-election debrief in Saanichton, where the mayor-elect was joined by Capital Daily managing editor Jimmy Thomson and reporters Shannon Waters, Brishti Basu, and Westshore reporter Zoë Ducklow.

There, Insiders were treated to a late afternoon of coffee, cakes, and politics. Topics ranged from the Missing Middle initiative, police amalgamation, climate change, as well as Murdock's vision for Saanich. Capital Daily Insiders made clear their priorities for Murdock too: housing and road safety.

"We need to build where it makes sense," Murdock said about development and the idea of a "walkable" Saanich. "And make our roads safer for our residents in doing so."

Saanich mayor-elect Dean Murdock. Photo: Tom Gierasimczuk / Capital Daily

Overall, Murdock said he wasn’t surprised over his win, but was rather surprised the race between him and Haynes was so close—the two were within 1% of each other.

But the same can’t be said for the Westshore, where Ducklow spoke on the tidal wave of council changes and how even Langford Now was surprised by their upset. "[ Langford Now] was shocked, ecstatic, and grateful," Ducklow said. "To them, three or four councillors was the dream."

Next, Shannon Waters gave her opinion on the status of the Missing Middle initiative with a whole new slate of candidates—a majority of which attended missing middle public hearings, and some of which ran pro-housing and pro-missing middle campaigns.

"It’s much more likely we’re going to have a consensus on the missing middle initiative [with this new council],” Waters said. “I would not be surprised to see it passed five to six votes in favour, and two against.”

Brishti Basu discussed her previous reporting regarding police intervention in a mental health crisis, touching on Victoria mayor-elect Marianne Alto’s position in favour of more peer-to-peer crisis intervention teams. Murdock said he agreed with that position. "Not all calls are emergency calls," he said. Murdock also told the audience he was eager to be a part of the conversation regarding police amalgamation with the region's mayors, expressing his position that a regional police force makes sense

The event concluded with 2% Jazz founder Sam Jones explaining his process of how he ethically sources his beans. He encouraged Insiders to strike a balance between how they purchase coffee and the ethical implications of the industry. "The coffee industry is like municipal politics—there’s a lot to say, a lot to love, and a lot to begrudge over,” Jones said.

It was wonderful to connect with our readers, and we’re always looking to connect more. When you become a Capital Daily Insider you get access to events such as these, and also get access to ask us your questions. Consider becoming a member, sign up here.