A Lantzville businessman who is being taken to court by the district has decided to run for mayor in that community.
Stanley Pottie says he intends to put his name forward for election in next month’s municipal election.
“I live in Lantzville, I love Lantzville and I’m not happy with the way Lantzville looks right now,” he said. “I think, as a businessman most of my life, I’m sure I can add a great deal to the outcome of Lantzville’s future and that’s why I’m running.”
Earlier this year, the District of Lantzville filed a Supreme Court of B.C. petition against Pottie, saying structures and vehicles on his property contravened zoning, building and traffic bylaws.
“We have some controversy because I have people living in trailers on my property, but we’re working on that to stay within the guidelines and working as best we can with [Lantzville district staff],” Pottie said.
There is also a cannabis dispensary on the property, but Pottie told the News Bulletin his wife is the owner of that operation and he’s a contractor. That said, if voters connect him with the dispensary, he thinks that will be a positive for his campaign as he said there are hundreds of clients from the area.
As he campaigns for municipal office, he thinks his experience as a businessman will be helpful in making decisions with tax dollars.
“When you’re playing with your own money, you get a lot sharper and a lot faster, so bringing that experience to this job, it would be a piece of cake to make it work,” he said.
Pottie calls Lantzville a “diamond in the rough” and thinks the community needs more commercial and residential development as well as seniors facilities. While he’s supportive of development, he doesn’t believe Lantzville needs to be redeveloped overnight.
“I’d like to see development in a nice slow manner that is conducive to a nice village environment,” he said.
Lantzville, according to Pottie, could also use a little more fun.
“I’d like to see more events and festivals in the downtown core,” Pottie said. “You go to some communities like Qualicum and there is always something going on. It’s a vibrant community and I think Lantzville is missing out on that. Lantzville is a beautiful spot and I think there should be a lot more activities.”
If elected, he says he would be a hands-on mayor who would look forward to hearing people’s ideas and listening to their concerns.
“Then I can actually look at their problems in a different light, where I have some power to fix some of their problems…” Pottie said. “I work within the community itself; I’m there all the time. So if anybody had a complaint or a question or an idea, I’m right there.”
Pottie said he thinks there’s a “very unhappy environment” at district hall and he wants it to be more “user-friendly.” He said he’s always been the sort of boss who views employees as people who work with him, not for him, and he hopes that as mayor, there could be co-operative efforts made for the good of Lantzville.
“It’s a beautiful little place, it just needs a breath of fresh air to get it going again,” he said.
To read interviews with other local government election candidates, click here.
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