After being seated at the Duncan council table for 22 years, councillor Sharon Jackson is looking to become Mayor Sharon Jackson.
The seven-term councilwoman said she believes she has both the experience and the ability to run for mayor.
The city might need it with no fewer than three council positions open with Jackson running for mayor, councillor Michelle Bell not seeking re-election and councillor John Horgan having recently died.
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Jackson made her official announcement on Tuesday, Sept. 11.
“I did consider running for council again but with the mayor stepping down, I thought it’s basically all or nothing time,” Jackson explained. “I have the most experience and I believe that I have the commitment and I believe that I can do a good job.”
Experience aside, Jackson knows full well it takes a team to run the city.
“I believe in working cooperatively and I believe in consensus building,” she explained. “I know we have to work by Roberts Rules of Order but I always try and see if you can reach consensus before you actually throw down the gauntlet because quite often people who have common sense do think along the same lines if you’ve got the city’s best interest at heart.”
Jackson noted she’s maintained the “corporate memory” that’s been lost through staff attrition and council changes over the years and she would continue meaningful dialogues with the city’s various neighbourhoods to create and maintain each community.
Jackson plans to carry on with identified goals for community sustainability, health and wellness and will “strongly support ongoing analysis of all our infrastructure that will result in a long term Asset Management plan.”
It will form the basis for future planning, budgeting and development charges, she explained.
“To me, this is the backbone of running a city,” Jackson said.
And running a city means communicating with its neighbours, which she knows is important.
“Ongoing intra-council communication is also key,” Jackson said.
Whatever comes her way, Jackson is up for the challenge of being Duncan’s mayor.
“This work is probably some of the most satisfying I’ve ever done,” she said. “You don’t do it for the money, you do it for love of the job and I would love to continue working on behalf of the citizens of Duncan.”
To learn more visit https://www.facebook.com/sharonjacksonmayor
sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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