When Richmond citizens check their ballots to vote for their favourite city council candidate this November, they will now be sending that person off to city hall for four years instead of three.
Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes announced Tuesday terms for elected municipal officials such as councillors and school board trustees will be extended by one year beginning with the 2014 elections.
The new provincial legislation, to be drafted this spring, will align B.C. with all other provinces. The change comes after the Union of British Columbia Municipalities passed a resolution last year to extend the terms.
The change was welcomed by Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie as well as some veteran councillors.
"It shows if you're considering being on council, you have to make a serious commitment," said Coun. Bill McNulty, noting that axing one election every 12 years will save the city money.
Proponents say new councillors can become more comfortable in their position before facing another election.
Coun. Derek Dang agreed, saying he could have benefited from a fourth year during his first term as a councillor in 1996.
"I think maybe in my first term that may have helped because that extra year of experience does make a difference. I'm sure I was a lot better at the end of my third year than I was at the end of my first year," said Dang.
While better long-term planning was also cited as a reason for a fourth year neither Dang nor Brodie could recall a project in Richmond that was harmed as a result of the shorter term.
"Largely the council has stayed the same. We've been able to carry on the objectives," said Brodie. Richmond has had just two mayors since 1990 and has several long-standing councillors.
Oakes also announced that the government is working out expense limits for the 2018 elections.
Brodie and McNulty said expense limits would not be a concern in Richmond as much as in Vancouver.
"I think that's blown well out of proportion," said McNulty, who along with Dang ran for council under the Richmond First slate, which reported roughly $150,000 in campaign financing in 2011.
Brodie, who raised about $220,000 in 2011, echoed McNulty.
"As long as every penny coming in and out is disclosed I don't particularly see a need for limits. But I don't particularly object to them.
Having raised the money and gone through the effort of raising it, I don't see why I can't use it," Brodie added.
First-term councillor Chak Au said a cap on election financing is essential.
"The most important thing is to have a cap on expenditure. We need more strict rules on third party donations. I think we need to create a fair playing field for candidates," said Au, who ran on the Richmond Independent Team of Electors slate, which spent $16,000 in 2011.
