A former Anmore village councillor who resigned in 2012 less than a year into his first term, sparking a byelection, is again seeking a seat on council.
Tim Laidler told The Tri-City News this week he is hoping to win back his old job in the Oct. 20 municipal election and said he does not believe the issues that arose during his first stint with the village will occur again.
“Currently, the mayor and council are doing a great job,” he said. “All the finances are in place… I feel like now I can contribute.”
That was not the case six years ago, when Laidler questioned the hiring of Tim Harris as chief administration officer, calling the hiring process flawed and the candidate unqualified. He favoured Rory Mandryk, who had been doing similar work for the village of Lions Bay, but was on medical leave at the time.
Mandryk would launch a Human Rights Tribunal complaint against Anmore, arguing he was discriminated against because he suffered from depression.
Laidler concurred with Mandryk, stating that several councillors had learned details of his medical issues during the hiring process, which affected their decisions. At the tribunal hearing, Laidler even spoke in Mandryk’s favour. But Jacqueline Beltgens, the adjudicator overseeing the case, dismissed the complaint against the village.
Laidler’s decision to resign his post in 2012 sparked a byelection that then-mayor Heather Anderson said cost the village between $8,000 and $9,000, roughly the equivalent of a 1% property tax increase.
Still, Laidler said he believes he made the right decision when he left office.
“I would deal with it the same way,” he said. “With the current council they have on, I feel absolutely sure that everything is being dealt with properly and correctly.”
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
@gmckennaTC
