Metchosin Mayor John Ranns said he plans to step away from politics come next year’s municipal election, if the right successor steps up.
“It’s been 35 continuous years for me as an elected representative,” he said. “I’d kind of like to know what life is like without it.”
Ranns was first elected to district council in 1987 and has served eight terms as mayor.
Throughout his time in office he has been a staunch defender of keeping Metchosin a rural community and said he would step down if he saw someone running who had the same philosophy. He hopes they get some new voices and good quality, but tipped current Coun. Kyara Kahakauwila as being a good future candidate for mayor.
“When you make that commitment to a community, if something happens, and you’re still needed, maybe I would run again,” he said. “If she decided that she would like to take on the job, I’d be happy to give it up.”
Kahakauwila said in an interview with Black Press she was planning to run for mayor, adding it felt like the natural progression after 5 terms and 15 years cumulatively as a councillor. She said
“Metchosin values are key to the heart of our community and the rural value is paramount in that,” she said. “So for me, I’ve spent 15 years defending that rural value and I would like to continue doing that.”
Also looking ahead to 2022, Ranns said he hopes progress on turning the old school building into a community centre will come to fruition and allow for a better equipped training centre for emergency service professionals. The district has been successful in multiple grant proposals for the project that should allow revitalization of the old building to kick off properly, he added.
“We’ve got highly skilled seniors on an advisory committee that are working to take best advantage we can of the grant money and to get it done as quickly as possible.”
The 2022 municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 15.
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John Ranns is the mayor of Metchosin.
