Dr. Tara Ney, first elected to Oak Bay Council in 2008, has announced her candicacy for re-election in the 2018 municipal election.
“There’s still work to do,” said Ney.
“That means working with our community to address priorities to enhance vibrancy of our villages, improve street safety, and expand housing options that will shape the Oak Bay of today, and of tomorrow.”
During the past decade Ney has served as chair of the Mayor’s Task Force on Public Engagement, chair of the Mayor’s Task Force on the Cenotaph as well as council liaison for the Oak Bay Arts Committee, and The Urban Forest Strategy.
She also sits on the Capital Regional District Arts Commission, the Regional Housing Trust Fund Commission, the Royal and McPherson Theatre Society and the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association.
“There are some immediate issues that the next council will need to address,” explained Ney.
“We have to figure out how we are going to create more housing options within the community. There are people who are retiring and downsizing but would love to continue to live in the community but there are few options available to them to do so. So we see an exodus of long term residents who are leaving Oak Bay and that eats away at the social community and should be a concern.”
Ney says that in order to address that concern there is a need to create more housing options that are still in line with the OCP.
Another issue with which Ney is concerned is the aging infrastructure in some parts of the community.
“Staff have been investigating this for some time and we now need to act on it. We need to look at things like aging pipes and other infrastructure and how to finance the needed replacements,” she said.
Ney has lived and worked in Oak Bay for the past 35 years.
Having raised her family in the community, she also found time to volunteer in a number of roles, including serving as chair of Restorative Justice Oak Bay.
Ney is trained as a PhD psychologist, she is currently a professor in the School of Public Administration at UVic. Having held a number of professional roles internationally and in Canada, over the past two decades, she has concentrated on the public sector in BC, serving as chair and board member for several provincial and local organizations.
She holds a BA (Hons) and PhD in Psychology from Southampton University, and an MA in Dispute Resolution from the University of Victoria.
Prior to her faculty appointment at the School of Public Administration, Ney worked in government, non-profit, and private sectors as a clinical and forensic psychologist, and has extensive experience in community development, both locally (restorative justice programming) and internationally (post-conflict zones). Her current research focuses on inclusive but effective decision-making processes.
“My approach is one that begins with our shared values,” said Ney. “I’m excited to hear from and respond to residents’ views on key issues in the weeks ahead.”
Ney joins Esther Paterson, Andrew Stinson, Cairine Green, Isabella Lee, Andrew Appleton, Eric Zhelka and Hazel Braithwaite in announcing their election campaigns for a council seat.
For Mayor, current councillor Kevin Murdoch has announced that he will be looking to unseat the incumbent, Nils Jenson, who is also seeking re-election.