David Bellis, a retired teacher and administrator who has lived in the Cowichan Valley for 60 years, said the community has been good to him and he would like to give something back.
He said his main concerns in North Cowichan are the need for more supportive housing, more affordable housing for low to middle-income earners and rising property taxes.
Bellis said he would advocate for more supportive housing because there are more than 400 unhoused people in the Cowichan Valley.
“Mental health issues and drug addiction will not be solved on the streets,” he said.
“As for more truly affordable housing, the average home price in North Cowichan is $750,000. For whom is that affordable? For those of us on fixed incomes, the strain of rising property taxes is becoming huge. We need to create revenue streams to ease the burden and help with infrastructure maintenance and replacement.”
Bellis said he’s running as an independent candidate and has no ties or obligations to any party or organization.
“I will be a centrist voice for those of us who want good fiscal management, while looking out for our most vulnerable,” he said. “Please vote for me on April 12. My motto is experience, commitment, integrity.”
