The news that Mayor Lyn Hall was not seeking re-election did not come as a real surprise to me. While he did provide stability over the past eight years, it was not without its controversies and big missteps. They were well reported, as they should have been, as the city was not transparent so the news media stepped in to do what the city couldn't or wouldn't do - give us taxpayers accountability and transparency. While he does leave a deserved legacy behind, it has been marred over decisions and inaction made over the past five years that if he wasn't complicit in he was aware at the very least of wrongdoings happening under his nose.
Now anybody that replaces him will have some very serious issues to deal with from the rampant and virtually unchecked homeless and vagrants plaguing most of the bowl area and the related encampments that dot the cityscape. Then there is inability of the mayor and most of city council to actually represent the city. Sure they represent certain areas and neighbourhoods but they seem not to understand that they represent the entire city not just their little gaggle of friends and supporters. Then the incoming mayor also has to deal with an aging infrastructure that needs a major overhaul from water and sewer lines to buildings that are in dire need of repair.
The biggest unknown is will the new incoming mayor let all that power they will now have go to their head or will the position overwhelm them? How will we taxpayers react and how will we choose to deal with it? Will taxes go up because more issues are found or will the new incoming mayor and council squander our hard-earned tax dollars on crap we don't need right now?
Whatever happens, the new mayor will have some major decisions to make in very short order which will determine what route they'll take and whether we taxpayers will support those decisions or not. The first four months of the new mayor’s term will determine what the next four years will look like and for us taxpayers, it is a scary proposition.
Dean Soiland
Prince George
