In Electoral Area I (Youbou-Meade Creek), where incumbent Brooke Hodson is stepping down as the Cowichan Valley Regional District director, a former director and a member of the Advisory Planning Commission are taking a shot at the position.

John Ward of Youbou, a retired teacher who director for 10 years between 1983 and 1993 will be challenged by Klaus Kuhn of Youbou, a member of the Advisory Planning Commission for the past five years, including three as chair.

“I think the number one issue is development around the lake,” said Ward. “I’d like to make sure it’s done sensibly.”

He said he is also opposed to raising the Cowichan Lake weir, which has been proposed by the Cowichan Basin Water Management Plan but so far not supported by the CVRD board.

“We didn’t have a beach last year,” Ward said of his Sa Seen Os Point waterfront property. “I don’t think the Crofton mill needs the extra water, considering how much they’re allowed under their licence and how much they use.”

Regarding amalgamation at the lake, Ward said he has some concerns.

He said that when the idea came up when he was a director there were some major concerns he had, such as the provincial government turning over control of the bridges without adequate funds to compensate.

Ward said he would also like to facilitate planning for a proposed new Youbou Connector schedule of regular trips between Youbou and Honeymoon Bay.

Kuhn said he wants to see Youbou prosper, grow and jobs created, as well as he would work at improving the community spirit he believes has been lost in recent years, especially since the old Youbou mill closed.

“That was a real blow to the community,” he said. “If we in Youbou want to achieve anything, we will have to have a strong community spirit that includes everyone, especially the summer residents. I think once you have a positive attitude, things happen.”

Kuhn supports the development at the old Youbou millsite, which he believes would give Youbou a positive stimulus, especially with a business park that could create jobs.

He said that when the official community plan was being revised, residents preferred that future development be focused at the old millsite.

Both candidates are cautious about the idea of amalgamating the Cowichan Lake area into a municipality.

“I would have to look into it because it would have to make economic sense,” said Kuhn. “I’m a numbers guy, so for me it would have to be something that wouldn’t cost us more in taxes.”

Ward said it was an issue when he was the director 15 years ago and there were some major concerns back then.

For example, he said, if the lake area was amalgamated the provincial government would have turned over jurisdiction of bridges to the new municipality without adequate funds to compensate.

“That would have been a big cost to us that we couldn’t afford,” said Ward.