There will be one dominant name missing on the ballot Saturday, when Esquimalt residents head to the polls to elect a new township council and mayor.
Dave Hodgins, who was first elected to council in 2011, is the only member of the current council not seeking re-election.
“I was waiting to see who might step up,” said Hodgins, 65. “There are some very good candidates.”
When Hodgins ran for council three years ago, he wasn’t bargaining on one term, or three, or four, he was just taking it as it comes.
He said he isn’t quite finished with politics yet. Two political parties (he wouldn’t say which ones) are wooing him to run in the next federal election.
Hodgins said he is proud of the work Esquimalt council was able to accomplish in the last three years, including no municipal tax increases and approving significant development projects.
Unfortunately, a slowing economy forced many of those projects to be delayed such as the Cambie and Admirals Road developments.
He said council also wasn’t able to put enough focus on improving the community’s image, mainly due to other issues that needed to be dealt with such as the policing contract and regional sewage.
“We did a lot of good work in supporting art and culture. That really helped a lot in terms of the impression people have about Esquimalt, he said.
Coun. Tim Morrison said Hodgins is a “top-tier” councillor and will be missed around the council table.
“He was always diplomatic and always open to other opinions.”
For Hodgins, it was just about doing the right thing.
“I always tried to bring balance to the [council] table,” Hodgins said.