Michael Mortimore

I created and managed, for many years, a business sustainably manufacturing Murphy Beds, which allow people to live comfortably in much smaller spaces than would otherwise be possible. I am now a consultant to that same business.

A few years back, I helped form a group to oppose the establishment of a rowing club and related buildings on the north shore of Langford Lake. The particular area proposed is a known painted turtle habitat. We applied various forms of lobbying and political pressure, and were successful in preventing the destruction this would have caused.

I am a keen supporter of environmental protection initiatives, because I truly appreciate the beauty and the bounty of our natural world.

Certainly.

I am most keen to place the responsibility for pollution squarely on the shoulders of the firms that create
it.

I haven't had the opportunity to review the details of this particular plan, so I have no opinion on it yet.

If elected, my first six months would focus on greater discipline and transparency in municipal spending.

I would press for a line-by-line review of City expenditures, particularly discretionary spending, consultants, contracts and projects that could be reduced, deferred or eliminated without compromising essential services.

For major new projects, I would want Council to see the complete financial picture before making a commitment - not just the initial cost, but financing, operating, maintenance and eventual replacement costs. In simple terms: who pays, how much, for how long, and what happens if the assumptions prove wrong?

Growth deserves the same scrutiny. Development can expand the tax base, but it should not automatically be assumed to make existing taxpayers better off. Council should determine whether revenues associated with new development are sufficient to cover its long-term costs.

If elected, I would focus on visible, preventative measures that make commercial districts and public spaces safer for residents, employees and businesses.

First, I would work with the West Shore RCMP and Langford’s Community Safety and Bylaw Enforcement teams to identify specific locations and times where additional visible patrols are needed, and ensure those resources are being used effectively.

Second, I would work with businesses to expand practical security measures, including improved lighting, appropriate security cameras and better coordination between businesses, bylaw officers and police. Where appropriate, I would support incentives or partnerships that help smaller businesses improve security.