After three terms as the mayor of the City of Duncan, Phil Kent doesn't feel he is finished yet.
"I still think there's lots to do," said Kent, who was first elected mayor in 2005 and is vying for a fourth term in this fall's election. "We've been making a lot of progress on a lot of fundamental things in our community play, but there's more to do on a
number of our initiatives."
Strategic direction and prudent fiscal management have been vital to council's success, he said. Among the achievements from the past years, Kent counts road, water and sewer improvements and upgrades, flood mitigation projects, parks and recreation improvements, downtown beautification projects, and urban forests plan implementations as highlights.
In addition to serving the city as mayor, Kent has also been chair of the Island Coastal Economic Trust since 2012 and chair of the Cowichan Success By Six Council of Partners since 2011. He has also been chair of the CVRD Board and Exempt Management Staff Compensation Committee, Vice Chair of the CVRD Regional Services Committee, a member of the CVRD Economic Development Commission and Transit Committee, and a director of the Island Corridor Foundation.
Kent hopes to continue to bring his experience and leadership not only to the city but to other regional groups.
"It's not just for the city," he said. "That's where my main focus is, but it's also regionally and Island-wide."
Kent pointed to a city emblem as something he strongly believes in.
"Our City Coat of Arms includes the banner 'Unity and Progress,'" he said. "And that for me is one of the driving guides of my leadership; I look forward to sharing my platform in the upcoming election with citizens and candidates."