Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen will serve as the Capital Regional District chair for the next year after being elected Wednesday during the inaugural meeting of the board.
“I believe in the CRD. I believe it’s an excellent organization with excellent, dedicated skilled staff,” he said during the meeting. “Can the CRD be better? Absolutely … but it really falls to us at this table to make it better.”
Jensen was elected to his second term as mayor on Nov. 15. Prior to that he spent 15 years as a councillor. A former law professor and Crown counsel, Jensen served for 12 years as the chair of the CRD Water Board and three years as trustee for the library board.
“I brought a relatively calm demeanour to the issue focussing debate … moving the agenda forward,” he said. “It is essential that there be a close working relationship [with staff], respectful, collegial and cordial.”
“I believe in treating our staff with the utmost respect, even when there’s disagreement. That’s the kind of chair I will promise to be.”