How to read this page. Each row below is one policy area, with Jack Sandor's mark for it on the right; the key underneath says what each mark means. Open a row for the questions behind that mark, what they answered, and why each answer scored as it did. The control above the list opens all of them at once. At the foot of the page you can print this scorecard or share it as an image.
General
What Jack Sandor said
- Not graded GEN-01
If you could change one policy, bylaw, feature, or municipal asset (i.e, facility or infrastructure) in your municipality, what would it be and why?
If I could change one thing, I’d make prototyping a much bigger part of how the City works.
We frequently spend years planning a project before we ever get to see how the concept works in the real world. By that point, a lot of money has been spent, expectations have hardened, and it becomes much harder to change course. There are many cases where this approach makes sense, and many where it does not. Sometimes it means that we end up with a worse result than if we had tested a simpler version early, learned from it, and adjusted as we went.
I’d like to see the City create a permanent program and budget for small-scale pilots across a wide range of areas. That could mean testing changes to streets and public spaces, trying new approaches to service delivery, opening underused buildings for temporary community uses, or experimenting with different ways of running City programs.
The concept is simple: if something is relatively cheap and reversible, try it at a small scale. Measure what happens, listen to the people affected, and use that evidence to decide what comes next. If it works, build on it. If it doesn’t, change it or stop doing it.
There are obviously projects where careful long-term planning is essential, but I think government at all levels is too afraid of trying things. A willingness to experiment would let Victoria learn faster and ultimately make better decisions. - Not graded GEN-02
Your municipality has received $10 million in new annual funding and must spend all of it. How would you allocate it across the following areas? Your answers must total $10 million.
Jack Sandor's allocation of ten million dollars Housing $5,500,000 Transit $1,250,000 Walking Infrastructure $500,000 Rolling & Cycling Infrastructure $500,000 Roadway Infrastructure $0 Policing $0 Fire & Emergency Services $250,000 Parks & Recreation $250,000 Arts & Culture $250,000 Climate Action & Environment $250,000 Unhoused Resident Services $250,000 Community-Based Clinics $1,000,000 - Not graded GEN-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to communicate about your region, generally, feel free to share your thoughts here.
I put the majority of the new funding into housing because I believe that the housing crisis is a major contributing factor to basically every single issue we face as a city. The connection with homelessness is very obvious, but less obvious ones include (but are not limited to):
-Transit and traffic; if people can't afford to live close to where they work, it becomes much harder to walk, bike, or take the bus, which means more cars on the road and more traffic
-Local businesses; when rents skyrocket, workers need higher wages just to stay in the city. Businesses have to pass some of those costs on through higher prices, while their customers have less money left over to spend in the local economy.
-Taxes; townhomes, apartments and other forms of denser housing generally generate more property-tax revenue per acre and make much more efficient use of existing infrastructure. Making room for more people on the same amount of land can help us pay for better services without putting as much pressure on property taxes..
Taken together, this means that any progress we make on housing is also automatic free progress on many other issues, so the bang-for-your-buck is highest with housing. It's far from the only issue I care about, but it's incredibly important if we want to solve any of our other problems that we solve the housing crisis.
The $0 allocations don’t mean I would cut existing funding for those services. They mean I wouldn’t direct this particular $10 million in new annual funding toward them.
Healthcare access
What Jack Sandor said
- Not graded HLT-01
What role should your municipality play in establishing new primary care clinics?
Why we ask this
Ungraded. Mainly curious about how you'd approach expanding healthcare access in your region.
Chose 1 of 4 options - Not graded HLT-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to healthcare in your municipality, feel free to share your thoughts below.
I have no substantive opinion regarding the different models in the question above. Whichever model would deliver the best outcome for Victoria residents is the one that I would support.
Transit
A- 20% of this topic TRN-01 A
Which fare measures would you actively advocate for at the VRTC? Select all that apply.
Why this grade: Committed to the entire fare package: free travel for under 19s, cheaper fares for seniors, cheaper fares for people on income or disability assistance, and a lower cost regional monthly pass. No measure was passed over.
How this question is graded
A count of ticks, because no option here is cheaper than the others in the way CLI-06's are. Four or more = A. Three = B. Two = C. One = C-. None = F. The rows graded before this rubric was written are not perfectly consistent with it at three and two ticks; they were left as typed and the majority letter was taken. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 4 of 6 options (up to 4 allowed) - 30% of this topic TRN-02 A
Do you support removing general on-street parking (excluding accessible parking spaces) from frequent transit corridors and main arterial streets in your municipality, and reallocating that space to bus lanes, loading zones, and walking and cycling infrastructure?
Why this grade: Would remove general street parking across the whole frequent transit corridor rather than only when traffic peaks, converting it to bus lanes, loading zones and walking and cycling space. That is the strongest option the question offered. Note: Victoria is home to the highest number of FTN corridors of any municipality in the region, chief among them the Douglas Corridor which will be seeing substantial redevelopment and transit priority in the coming years. This question is of critical importance to Victoria, and the CRD at large with respect to tranist priority.
How this question is graded
Yes, across the whole corridor = A. Yes, only during peak hours = B. Kind of, only when a specific project requires it = C. No = F. Peak hours only is a real, testable limit on a yes, so it takes the conditional-yes B. Only when a specific project requires it names no project and commits to nothing in advance, which is the case-by-case answer CLI-08 puts at C. A No is F because the question is about street space, which is infrastructure. Eight of the earlier rows put the case-by-case option at B and nineteen put it at C; the nineteen were followed. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 6 options - 30% of this topic TRN-03 A
Do you support rapid deployment of transit priority measures on frequent transit corridors, even where this requires removing on-street parking or a general-purpose traffic lane?
Why this grade: Yes to rapid deployment of transit priority, accepting the loss of parking or a general traffic lane where needed. The answer carries no caveats. Note: Victoria is home to the highest number of FTN corridors of any municipality in the region, chief among them the Douglas Corridor which will be seeing substantial redevelopment and transit priority in the coming years. This question is of critical importance to Victoria, and the CRD at large with respect to tranist priority.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Yes, but not at the cost of a general-purpose travel lane = C-. No = F. The question asks specifically about giving up a traffic lane, so a yes that rules the lane out withholds the one thing being asked for and cannot take the conditional-yes B. C- rather than F because the rest of the toolkit is still on the table. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 6 options - 10% of this topic TRN-04 A
Do you support the creation of a regional transportation authority?
Why this grade: Supports creating a regional transportation authority. The answer is an unqualified yes.
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No = C-. A No is C- rather than F because this asks who should decide, not what should be built or funded, which puts it on the governance side of the CLI-03 split. Three earlier rows typed F and two typed C-; the governance rule was followed over the count. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 3 options - 10% of this topic TRN-05 A
Do you support building new bus-only and bike-only connections through parks, golf courses or public land when doing so would substantially shorten transit and cycling trips?
Why this grade: Backs new bus only and bike only links through parks, golf courses and public land where they would substantially shorten trips. No condition was placed on that support.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Yes, if no mature trees are lost during construction = B. No = F. Losing no mature trees is a named and checkable condition, so it takes the conditional-yes B. A No is F because the question is about building a connection, which is infrastructure. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options
Also shared, ungraded
- Not graded TRN-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to transit in your region, feel free to share your thoughts below.
Transit is an incredibly important part of any functional transportation system, and has been badly neglected across the CRD. There is no future where we solve our problems with traffic and transportation that does not involve massive investments in, and prioritization of, transit. I personally live two minutes away from seven different transit lines, and yet I rarely take transit, because other options are just more convenient for me. If we want transit to be a viable option for people, it needs to be faster, more frequent, and more reliable. At a local level, this means infrastructure investments.
Housing
A- HFL-01 8 / 8
What kinds of housing could your municipality use more of? Select all that apply.
How this question is graded
1 point per selected type to max of 8. Housing exists on a continuum and different types are appropriate for different households. All housing is needed and positively affects other types via vacancy chains
Jack Sandor chose 8 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - HFL-02 8 / 8
Which of the following items do you support to minimize tenant displacement and maintain/grow the supply of affordable housing? Select up all that apply.
How this question is graded
1 point per strategy to max of 8. To tackle tenant displacement local governments must take an all of the above approach to reduce the impacts associated with renovictions and evictions.
Jack Sandor chose 8 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - HFL-03 6 / 6
Do you think your municipality should have target approval times for multifamily housing?
How this question is graded
6 points for 30/180 days, prorated for longer timelines. Housing delayed is housing denied. Long delays drive us costs for housing, increase the chance that they will be cancelled, and indicate a lack of clear published guidelines. A time limit on decisions prioritizes housing action and reforms.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - HFL-04 5 / 5
If there was a type of housing you wanted to see more of (e.g., affordable, non-market, family-sized, townhouses, etc.), what do you think are effective methods of getting more of it? Select all that apply.
How this question is graded
1 point for each option, but -1 for choosing mandated requirements (d). To increase the building of certain desireable types of housing (affordable, family sized, etc), cities need to pursue a broad approach of both removing barriers and targetted incentives. Mandated requirements (or inclusionary zoning) have a track record of acting like a tax and therefore reducing housing construction or increasing costs.
Jack Sandor chose 7 of 8 options - HFL-05 3 / 3
Do you believe that the municipality should pre-zone to the uses, heights and densities outlined in the Official Community Plan, so that OCP-compliant projects can be built without rezoning or public hearing?
How this question is graded
3 points for yes, 0 for no. An OCP sets out the direction and vision for a municipality with broad input from the community and council. Matching zoning to long term consensus-based plans reduces scarcity and allows incentivizes OCP compliant housing to be built quickly.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 3 options - HFL-06 6 / 6
Beyond the three to four units Bill 44 already requires, what is the most housing you think should be legal to build by-right (i.e. without rezoning) in traditional single-family areas of your municipality?
How this question is graded
a) 0 points b) 1 points c) 2 points d) 5 points e) 6 points. With little room for new single family developments, housing abundance relies on density. People unable to afford a single family house should not be relegated to living only on busy arterials where high density is legal, but should have a diversity of housing options in every neighbourhood.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 6 options - HFL-07 3 / 3
A housing proposal has been reviewed by staff and they recommend approval. It requires rezoning because the existing zoning has not been updated. If it faces substantial neighbourhood opposition, how would you generally vote?
How this question is graded
3 points for a), 0 otherwise. Housing approval rules must be predictable and clear for those building housing, or it will lead to scarcity. If municipal planning staff have adequately considered objections to a project and still recommend approval it should be approved. If unanticipated issues are raised, policies should be clarified to ensure staff can work with applicants on future projects.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - HFL-08 1 / 2
Do you support eliminating minimum parking requirements for new developments or suites?
How this question is graded
1 point for yes, 2 points for yes with transportation demand management measures, 0 points for no. A single additional parking space can add tens of thousands to the cost of a home. However, a development without parking and without offsetting remedies can impact livability for the eventual occupants of a home.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 4 options - HFL-09 5 / 6
Non-market housing often faces additional challenges getting approved. Which of the following measures do you support to improve the prospects for below-market housing construction? Select all that apply.
How this question is graded
1 point for each option, but -1 for choosing mandated requirements (d). Building homes is hard, building non-market homes is substantially harder. This has serious socio-economic consequences for certain members of society. With the exception of mandated requirements (or inclusionary zoning), which have a track record of acting like a tax and therefore a deterrent to new construction, a broad and flexible approach is needed to help non-market housing across the approval finish line.
Jack Sandor chose 7 of 9 options (up to 7 allowed) - HFL-11 6 / 6
The BC government set a housing target for Victoria at 4,902 homes over five years, which represents 75% of the estimated housing need for that period. Regardless of provincial requirements or penalties, do you believe the city should strive to build:
How this question is graded
6 points for too low, 1 for about right, 0 for too high. By definition, the provincial housing targets, being set as only 75% of estimated housing need is too low of a target to meet local housing needs.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 4 options - HFL-12 6 / 6
Municipal asset-management plans have identified substantial gaps between current funding and the amount needed to maintain and replace roads, water and sewer systems, public buildings, and other infrastructure. In Victoria, the 2024 Corporate Asset Management Strategy identified $570 million worth of infrastructure in poor or very poor condition. Which approaches would you prioritize to address this infrastructure problem? Select up to two.
How this question is graded
5 points for selecting more housing and commercial development, 1 for seeking additional provincial or federal funding, 0 points for increasing taxes or reducing infrastructure projects, and -2 points for increasing development charges, amenity contributions, and other fees imposed on new houses.
Jack Sandor chose 2 of 6 options - HFL-10 7 / 7
If elected, what do you hope to have accomplished on the housing file at the end of your first year, and end of your four-year term?
How this question is graded
To receive full marks, candidates receive a point up to 7 for referencing impactful housing ideas in their answer including but not limited to: a rental vacancy rate target, a quantitative target regarding annual homes built, pre-zoning commitments / OCP alignment, non-profit by right commitment, commitment to tenant production aligned with platform, commitment to regulate and enforce Airbnb rules, delegate more rezoning / variance decisions to staff, a continuation of policies that have been working, developing a pre-approved catalog of housing designs, loosening design guidelines or other restrictive regulations, minimizing tenant displacement, increasing the regional housing fund, enhancing partnerships with other levels of government, the private sector, co-ops, and non-profit housing developers, streamlining regulations, and shorten requirements.
Jack Sandor's answerWith regard to policy, within my first year I would love to see the city;
-Permanently exempt nonmarket housing from all taxes, charges, and fees, to get as much deeply affordable housing as possible built as quickly as possible
-Implement a tax on the construction of new mansions, using the funds for deeply affordable housing
-Freeze taxes, charges, and fees on all other forms of new housing, to bring down the cost of housing
All of these actions are easily achievable within one year.
Within my first four year term, I would love to see the city;
-Expand the tenant protection bylaw, to protect tenants and reduce displacement
-Make it easier to build family suitable housing, to provide people with more options and help keep families in Victoria
-Introduce guaranteed response timelines from staff, to stop wasting time and get housing built more affordably
-Expand on the catalogue of pre-approved housing designs, to reduce housing costs and make our processes more predictable
-Pilot a financing program for co-ops, to increase the diversity and affordability of housing in Victoria
In terms of measurable outcomes, I would like to see;
-The cost of housing, both rental and ownership, decrease significantly
-The vacancy rate rise to the high end of the healthy range, and stay there
-Average staff response times improve by at least 50% for small scale projects
-Tenant displacement from development decrease significantly
Also, on the subject of inclusionary zoning in HFL-09; All the evidence I've seen shows that this policy only works to create affordable housing if it is funded through outside sources. If that is what is meant, then I do support it. If not, then I don't, as in my research unfunded inclusionary zoning seems to serve only to make housing more expensive by making it harder to build, and doesn't actually result in any meaningful amount of new housing. I know that's not related to this question, but I'm still under the character limit.
Climate
A- 8% of this topic CLI-01 A
Would you support ending fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship on property, media and events controlled by your municipality, to the extent the law allows? And would you advocate for the same at the Victoria Regional Transit Commission for BC Transit vehicles and shelters?
Why this grade: Yes to ending advertising and sponsorship, and yes to advocating beyond the municipality's own property. That is the complete answer.
How this question is graded
Two commitments in one question, so the menu answer alone cannot reach the top. The menu sets a base and a Yes on the follow-up about advocating at the Victoria Regional Transit Commission raises it one step. Yes, both advertising and sponsorship = B, and A with the follow-up. Yes, advertising only or Yes, sponsorship only = C, and B with the follow-up. No = F, because ending the advertising is something the municipality controls outright. A follow-up written as free text rather than ticked is a judgement about the candidate and is graded by hand. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 6 options Follow-up: Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 8% of this topic CLI-02 B
The Capital Regional District declared a climate emergency in 2019. How should your municipality treat climate action in its next four-year plan?
Why this grade: Backs a funded top three position for climate. The spending commitment is clear and the ranking is short of overriding.
How this question is graded
The overriding priority, other decisions should be tested against it = A. One of the top three priorities, with a dedicated budget = B. One priority among many, addressed where affordable = C-. Not a municipal priority = F. The ladder skips C on purpose: a dedicated budget is the line between a priority and a sentiment, so addressing climate only where affordable drops two steps rather than one. Handing the file to another order of government is F. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 8% of this topic CLI-03 A
Will you pledge to never take meetings from fossil fuel company lobbyists?
Why this grade: A plain yes. The candidate accepts a bright line instead of reserving room to hear industry out.
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No = C-. The No is C- rather than F because of the split the grading settled on: a plain No is C- where the question is about governance or conduct and F where it is about infrastructure, land use or funding. This one asks a candidate to give up a channel of access to themselves, which is conduct. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 3 options - 8% of this topic CLI-04 A
Climate-related damage and adaptation costs increasingly fall on municipal budgets. Would you vote to have your municipality join other BC local governments in legal action to recover a share of those costs from major fossil fuel producers?
Why this grade: Supports the suit without qualification. The commitment holds whatever the municipal share turns out to be.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Yes, if municipal costs are capped = B, because a conditional yes is B wherever one appears and a cap on municipal exposure lands there. No = F, because the question is about spending to recover costs, which is the funding side of the split CLI-03 sits on the other side of. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 8% of this topic CLI-05 A
Will you support a zoning bylaw amendment that prohibits the approval of any new or expanded commercial gas stations within municipal boundaries?
Why this grade: Supports the bylaw amendment as written. The scope covering expansions as well as new builds is accepted along with it.
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No = F. A land use question, so a No is F rather than C-. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 3 options - 8% of this topic CLI-06 A
Extreme heat, wildfire smoke and wildfire risk all affect people living in existing homes. What would you have your municipality do to protect them? Select all you support.
Why this grade: Selects every option offered. Breadth here is matched by willingness to fund, which is what the question was testing.
How this question is graded
Up to five measures may be ticked. Four or more ticks including at least two of the three the municipality has to pay for (subsidized home assessments, grants or financing for retrofits, designated centres with guaranteed opening hours) = A. Three or more ticks = B. Two = C. One = C-. None of the above = F. The funding floor is there because a straight count of ticks would let a candidate reach the top on the two cheapest options, a vegetation bylaw and an information campaign, while committing no money to anyone actually living in an overheating home. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 5 of 7 options (up to 5 allowed) - 8% of this topic CLI-07 A
Are you supportive of phasing out fossil fuel powered tools such as leaf blowers (following the lead of Oak Bay and other municipalities across the country)?
Why this grade: Commits to the change. No exception is reserved for particular operators or particular tools.
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No = F. A regulatory phase-out, graded on the same footing as CLI-05. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 3 options - 8% of this topic CLI-08 A
Large data centres can add substantial electricity and water demand. Under what conditions, if any, would you support a new data centre in your municipality?
Why this grade: Rejects new data centres in the municipality. That is the clearest available answer to a question about demand the municipality would have to serve.
How this question is graded
Oppose all new data centres = A. Support only with waste-heat recovery and no net increase in potable water use = B. Support only under conditions set case by case = C. Support without special conditions = F. The two conditional options are separated by whether the condition binds. Waste-heat recovery and no net potable water increase is a testable commitment, so it takes the conditional-yes B. Conditions set case by case name nothing and commit to nothing, so it takes the C that a depends-case-by-case answer gets everywhere else. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 8% of this topic CLI-09 A
What are the primary climate risk(s) facing your community, and what actions would you take to support adaptation and resilience in your community?
Why this grade: Shows strong support for climate resilience, identifies several relevant risks, and provides a few concrete examples of how to work towards mitigating them.
How this question is graded
Free text. A = names a climate risk specific to the municipality and specific actions against it, usually tied to data or a programme already running. B = one half only, a risk with no action or actions with no risk named, or backing an existing plan without either. C = general support with nothing local in it, a list of risks and nothing else, or the work handed to the region. C- = a risk gestured at and nothing more. F = an answer that is not about climate.
Jack Sandor's answerI think Victoria’s biggest climate risks are extreme heat, heavier rainfall and flooding, sea-level rise, and wildfire smoke. We can reduce those risks by expanding and diversifying our urban forest, protecting mature trees, and adding more shade to streets and public spaces. We also need to keep upgrading stormwater infrastructure and make better use of things like rain gardens and permeable surfaces to deal with heavier rainfall.
As we build new infrastructure and housing, we need to design for the climate we are going to have in the coming decades, not the climate we had in the past. This is especially important along the waterfront and in areas that are more vulnerable to flooding or extreme heat.
The City also needs to be prepared when extreme weather does happen. That means having cooling and clean-air spaces available and making sure support reaches people who are most at risk. Victoria cannot do all of this alone, so we also need to work closely with First Nations, the CRD, neighbouring municipalities and the Province on issues like water security, coastal resilience and emergency response.
Climate resilience should be part of the everyday decisions we make about infrastructure, development and City spending, rather than something we only think about after a disaster. - 8% of this topic CLI-10 A
Ensuring ecosystem connectivity is an important adaptation strategy for climate change. How do you plan to maintain or increase ecosystem features across the urban landscape?
Why this grade: Shows a clear understanding of what ecosystem connectivity is, why it's important, and provides clear actions that can be taken to improve it. Also identifies the need for regional collaboration.
How this question is graded
Free text. A = says what connectivity is and why it matters, with local examples, usually tied to data, a programme already running or the official community plan. B = practical examples with no local detail, or no link back to connectivity. C = general support with no project named, or an answer broad enough to fit any question. C- = agrees with the idea and offers nothing to do about it, or answers about something tangential. F is not used.
Jack Sandor's answerI would start by protecting the natural areas and mature trees we already have, while looking for more opportunities to connect green spaces across the city. That means expanding the urban tree canopy and making better use of streets, parks and other public land to create continuous green corridors rather than isolated patches.
When new development happens, we should preserve important natural features where we can and make more use of native plants in landscaping. The City should also keep restoring degraded areas, removing invasive species and naturalizing public land where it makes sense. Features like rain gardens and bioswales can help manage stormwater while also creating better habitats for wildlife.
I also think this needs to be built into the way we plan transportation, housing and public infrastructure. If we think about habitat connections early, rather than trying to add them afterward, we can make Victoria both greener and more resilient as it grows. The City should also work closely with First Nations, the CRD, neighbouring municipalities and the Province, since ecosystems don't stop at municipal boundaries. - 8% of this topic CLI-11 A
Do you see development as an opportunity to increase resilience to climate-related events, and if so, how?
Why this grade: Clearly provides a few concrete measures that can be taken from a zoning and materials perspective to address resilience through development.
How this question is graded
Free text. A = yes, with how and why, naming strategies or a local policy that ties development to resilience. B = yes with relevant examples but no account of how they build resilience or how they get built. C = general support and nothing past what the building code already requires. C- = a bare yes, or support that doubts it is possible. F = does not accept that development can make a community more resilient.
Jack Sandor's answerAbsolutely, and it frustrates me that this isn't a more prominent issue in housing discourse. Development is one of the biggest opportunities we have to make Victoria more resilient to climate change. Some of our current rules push buildings to be shorter and wider, which can mean covering more of a lot and leaving less room for trees, landscaping and stormwater management. In the right places, allowing buildings to be a little taller and slimmer can leave more space at ground level for those things while still delivering the housing we need.
New development also means replacing older, inefficient buildings with homes that are much better insulated, better sealed and better able to handle extreme weather. I see the difference firsthand through my work as a construction electrician, and I have also lived in an older home with uninsulated walls and single-pane windows. Modern buildings can use far less energy and stay much safer and more comfortable during heat waves, cold snaps and other extreme weather.
We must use development to build more housing while also creating greener, more climate-resilient neighbourhoods. - 8% of this topic CLI-12 A
The UBCM passed several resolutions saying municipalities should be able to have climate action lens and climate considerations in development and housing mandates. Do you support blue-green infrastructure upgrades as a requirement of developments for climate readiness?
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No = F. Graded by RUSH from 2026-09-01; the mapping is recorded so the remaining rows match the ones already typed. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 3 options
Arts
A- 6.67% of this topic ART-01 3 / 3
Do you consider arts and culture to be a core part of your municipality's economic development strategy?
Why this score: Provides an explicit strategic municipal role in securing affordable cultural space, protecting existing spaces and increasing nonprofit/public ownership.
How this question is graded
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 4 optionsFollow-up: I think the municipality has an important role to play in making sure artists and cultural organizations have places to work, perform and create. From the conversations I’ve had with people in the arts community, one of the biggest challenges in Victoria is simply finding affordable space. Rising rents and redevelopment can push studios, galleries, rehearsal spaces, venues and smaller cultural organizations out of the city.
The City should do more to protect the cultural spaces we already have while helping create new ones. That means making better use of underused public and private spaces, looking for opportunities in new developments, and working with non-profits, property owners and the arts community to secure affordable spaces for the long term.
Where possible, I would like to see more of those spaces owned publicly or by arts and cultural non-profits. That gives organizations more stability and makes them less vulnerable to rising rents or the loss of a lease. - 16.67% of this topic ART-02 3 / 3
If elected, what specific action will you commit to in your first year to strengthen your municipality's arts and cultural sector, and what measurable outcome should residents expect by the end of your four-year term?
Why this score: Sets concrete first-year identification and preservation actions and a four-year objective to increase affordable long-term space, protect existing spaces and activate underused spaces.
How this question is graded
Jack Sandor's answerIn my first year, I would bring together local arts organizations, schools, community groups, property owners and the development community to identify spaces that could be opened up or better used for arts and cultural activities. That could include school gyms and classrooms after hours, City-owned buildings, community spaces, vacant storefronts, and space in new developments.
I would also push the City to identify cultural spaces that are at risk of being lost and look for practical ways to help preserve them.
By the end of my four-year term, I would want residents to see a real increase in the amount of affordable, long-term space available for artists, performers and cultural organizations in Victoria, with more existing spaces protected and more underused spaces put to work. - 13.33% of this topic ART-03 3 / 3
Cultural strategies are often adopted and then not implemented. Would you support a cultural space implementation framework with defined tools, timelines and public reporting? Select up to three components you would prioritize. Select your top three options.
Why this score: Selects long-term affordability/stability tools, nonprofit partnerships for permanent assets and measurable implementation targets/timelines.
How this question is graded
Jack Sandor chose 3 of 11 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-04 3 / 3
Arts organizations and event producers identify permitting, zoning and regulatory requirements as barriers to cultural activity. What would you commit to? Select all that apply.
Why this score: Supports the full range of consequential permitting, event, coordination, zoning and disproportionate-cost reforms.
How this question is graded
Jack Sandor chose 8 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - 16.67% of this topic ART-05 3 / 3
If preserving and securing long-term cultural space requires additional municipal support, which approaches would you support? Select up to five.
Why this score: Supports regional funding, nonprofit acquisition, cultural land trusts and long-term municipal leases, with an emphasis on long-term stability.
How this question is graded
Jack Sandor chose 5 of 16 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-06 3 / 3
Municipal budgets require difficult choices. Would you support maintaining arts and culture investment alongside other core municipal services?
Why this score: Explicitly supports arts and culture maintaining or growing alongside other core services.
How this question is graded
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-07 3 / 3
When a major development project affects an existing cultural space, what should your municipality prioritize?
Why this score: Supports replacement cultural space or equivalent community benefit in redevelopment.
How this question is graded
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 16.67% of this topic ART-08 3 / 3
Would you support municipal incentives to encourage private property owners and developers to provide affordable community & cultural space for nonprofits? Select all that apply.
Why this score: Supports multiple high-impact mechanisms, including development requirements/incentives and both property-tax tools.
How this question is graded
Jack Sandor chose 4 of 7 options (up to 5 allowed)
Also shared, ungraded
- Not graded ART-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to the arts in your municipality or the region as a whole, feel free to share your thoughts below.
I'm glad to see the arts community getting more politically involved and ensuring that their interests are represented in government :)
Rolling & cycling
A- 15% of this topic ROL-01 A
Will you commit to funding and completing at least one 'missing link' in your municipality's Active Transportation Plan during your four-year term? If yes, which one would you prioritize?
Why this grade: Commits to completing Victoria's section of Oak Bay Avenue between Foul Bay and Oak Bay Junction within a first term, and explains why that corridor matters for east west connectivity and for giving Oak Bay a reason to extend the route eastward. A named link, a stated timeline and reasoning behind the choice.
How this question is graded
Yes + Project surfaced = A; Yes + No specific project in mind, or vague project = B; Combination of No and/or a lack of project ideas = C-F, depending on severity.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 4 optionsFollow-up: I would prioritize completing the missing link along Oak Bay Avenue between Foul Bay and Oak Bay Junction.
Oak Bay Avenue is one of the city’s most important east-west corridors. It connects a large number of residents with businesses, services and the rest of Victoria’s cycling network, but it still lacks the kind of safe cycling infrastructure that would make it comfortable for a much wider range of people.
It also has an important regional benefit. Oak Bay is working on its own active transportation network, and building a safe connection to the municipal boundary would give our neighbour a much stronger reason to continue that route eastward. However, even without that connection, Oak Bay Avenue is a major destination in its own right, with a lot of businesses and homes along the corridor.
I’d like to see Victoria complete our section during my first term and create a route that Oak Bay can eventually connect to. - 15% of this topic ROL-02 B
Will you commit (or continue to commit) to physical protection (not paint alone) as the standard for all new and upgraded cycling infrastructure on busy streets in your municipality?
Why this grade: This question asks about supporting a design standard to establish a level of safety. Infrastructure is not "physically impossible"; it is a question of cost and assessing alternatives. Qualifying an answer with "except where physically impossible" leaves an easy out because many obstacles initially appear impossible to overcome. Hard work is needed to identify viable solutions.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Yes, except where physically impossible = B. No = F. Except where physically impossible is a condition that can be checked against a street, so it takes the conditional-yes B, and that is where the 19 rows graded before this rubric existed put it. A No is F because the question sets a construction standard, which is infrastructure. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 15% of this topic ROL-03 A
Will you oppose efforts (current and future) to remove, narrow or downgrade existing protected bike lanes and other all-ages-and-abilities (AAA) cycling infrastructure in your municipality during your term?
Why this grade: A clear commitment to oppose removal, narrowing or downgrading of existing protected bike lanes and all ages and abilities infrastructure. Nothing qualifies the answer.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Depends, case-by-case = C. No = F. Depends case by case names no test and commits to nothing, which is the C it gets on CLI-08 and TRN-02; 13 of the 14 rows graded before this rubric existed agree. A No is F because the question is about keeping built infrastructure in place. An answer of N/A is a claim that the question does not apply to that municipality, which is a judgement about a candidate and is passed in by hand, like an excused decline. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 20% of this topic ROL-04 B
What is the most important active transportation project in the municipality that you will be focused on progressing? Please provide your reasoning.
Why this grade: Names secure bike parking, particularly extending the bike valet model to more locations, and supports it with usage data and the rising value of e bikes and cargo bikes left locked outside. This is genuine cycling investment and well argued, but end of trip parking complements the network rather than closing the safety gaps that decide whether people ride at all.
How this question is graded
A = Candidate is able to identify a project in their community and speak to its importance. B & C = Candidate has a general idea of something that can be improved but it isn't high on their priority list. F = Candidate does not think any improvements can/should be made.
Jack Sandor's answerThe active transportation project I’d most like to see progressed is improving secure bike parking, particularly bringing the Bike Valet model to more locations around Victoria.
We’ve spent years building out a much better cycling network, but people also need somewhere safe to leave their bike when they get to where they’re going. That matters even more as e-bikes and cargo bikes become more common and people are leaving thousands of dollars worth of equipment locked up outside. User surveys and usage data show that the Downtown Bike Valet has been extremely popular, and I think its success shows that there’s real demand for secure, convenient bike parking.
I’d like to see the City expand that model to other busy destinations and neighbourhood centers, while also adding more covered bike parking, secure lockers and high-quality racks throughout Victoria. The city should work with businesses, institutions and other property owners to find locations where secure parking would get the most use.
For a relatively modest investment, better bike parking can turbocharge the effectiveness of the cycling infrastructure we’ve already built. If we want more people to use a bike for everyday trips, they need to know they’ll have somewhere convenient and secure to leave it when they arrive. - 35% of this topic ROL-05 A
If you have previously served in local government, what did you do to advance walking, rolling, cycling or transit? If you have not, what in your record outside of council shows the same commitment?
Why this grade: Volunteered on Capital Bike's Victoria Local Committee, ran bike valets at community events including FernFest, and pushed through the Official Community Plan process for policies that build cycling into the city as it grows. A sustained record of contribution outside of local government.
How this question is graded
Free text, graded by a person on what the record shows about advancing walking, rolling, cycling or transit. A = delivered work, meaning budgets moved, plans adopted, infrastructure built, or a sustained organisational role with results behind it. B = substantial relevant advocacy or a directly relevant role, with less account of what it produced. C = a record from a different office, or advocacy confined to one location or issue, or no previous term with nothing offered in its place. C- = personal experience or unrelated work with no advocacy behind it. F = nothing relevant offered, or a record that closed the question rather than advancing it. The bands come from the 79 rows graded before 2026-09-20. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor's answerI haven’t served in local government, but I’ve supported active transportation in a few different ways. I’ve volunteered with Capital Bike’s Victoria Local Committee, and I’ve also helped run Capital Bike’s bike valets at events, including FernFest.
I’ve also been involved in advocacy around Victoria’s Official Community Plan, including pushing for policies that make cycling safer and easier to build into the city as it grows. More broadly, I’ve consistently supported better cycling and transit infrastructure because I think giving people more safe and convenient ways to get around is essential to making Victoria more affordable, accessible and livable.
I won’t pretend that active transportation has been the main focus of my volunteer work, but it is something I’ve consistently supported and contributed to, and it would be a priority for me on council.
Walking
A- 10% of this topic WLK-01 A
Municipalities, the CRD and the Province have all adopted targets to shift trips away from driving. Do you support meeting your municipality's adopted mode-shift targets, and would you vote for the necessary street-space and budgetary changes?
Why this grade: Shows a commitment to multimodal planning and transportation demand management.
How this question is graded
A = yes, even if it means removing driving lanes. C = yes, but not when it takes road space from drivers. F = no. Two steps between the two yeses because the adopted targets cannot be met without reallocating street space. Unsure and Decline to answer are both C- on this tab.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 20% of this topic WLK-02 A
Which pedestrian safety problem in your municipality concerns you most, and what is the one change you would commit to in your first term to make walking safer and more attractive than driving for short trips?
Why this grade: Names poor visibility at intersections, where someone walking has to step out from behind parked cars to be seen, and commits to a city wide programme to keep the space beside crossings clear and add curb extensions. Aimed first at schools, shopping streets and locations with a history of collisions.
How this question is graded
Free text, graded by a person against the two things the question asks for: a named local problem, and one change committed to in a first term. A = both, with the change specific enough to be delivered and usually tied to funding, a named corridor or an existing plan. B = the problem is named and the response is concrete but soft, narrow, or a review rather than a change. C = a problem is named and nothing is committed to, or the framing of the question is declined. C- = no local problem is settled on, or the answer is a general gesture. F = nothing responsive is offered. The bands come from the 31 rows graded before 2026-09-20 and were applied to the remaining 51 on that date. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor's answerThe pedestrian safety problem that concerns me most is poor visibility at intersections. Too often, someone walking has to step out from behind parked cars before they can clearly see approaching traffic, and before drivers can clearly see them. Wide intersections and fast turns can make the problem worse.
In my first term, I’d push for a city-wide program to daylight intersections, particularly around schools, commercial areas and places with a history of collisions. That means keeping the space immediately around crossings clear of parked cars and adding curb extensions where they make sense. Curb extensions shorten the distance people have to cross, making pedestrians easier to see and forcing drivers to take turns at a safe speed.
These are relatively simple changes, but they can make a big difference to how comfortable walking feels. For short trips, walking should feel like the easiest and safest option, *especially* for kids, seniors and people with limited mobility. - 10% of this topic WLK-03 A
Sidewalk construction and maintenance is chronically underfunded across the region. Would you vote to increase the share of your municipality's transportation capital budget dedicated to pedestrian infrastructure?
Why this grade: Backs more than doubling the share of transportation capital spending that goes to walking infrastructure. Support at the level the funding gap calls for.
How this question is graded
Yes, a substantial increase, meaning more than double what is currently spent = A. Yes, a modest increase, meaning more but less than double = B, because that is a real commitment with a ceiling on it. No, the current amount is sufficient = F, because the question is about money for infrastructure, which is the funding side of the split. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 20% of this topic WLK-04 A
Do you support expanding pedestrian-priority and car-free streets in your municipality's downtown, main street or village centre?
Why this grade: Would pursue a permanent expansion of car free and pedestrian priority streets. A clear commitment at the strongest level offered.
How this question is graded
Yes, and I would pursue a permanent expansion or implementation = A. Yes, but only temporary, seasonal or pilot closures = B, because it is a yes with a stated limit on it. No = F, because the question is about street space, which is infrastructure. An answer of N/A is not on this list: it is a claim that the municipality has no downtown, main street or village centre, which is a judgement about a candidate and is passed in by hand. It has been left blank where that is true of the municipality and graded F everywhere the question plainly does apply. Unsure was typed C on two rows before 2026-09-13 and those rows were reset to blank on 2026-09-20, so the question now follows the shared policy. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 6 options - 20% of this topic WLK-05 A
How will you work with parent groups, school staff, and municipal staff to assure that children’s safety is prioritized over convenience and flow of motor traffic?
Why this grade: This answer addresses all the components to achieve the kind of planning and actions that accomplish improved safety for children in school zones as well as the changes necessary to assure constructive actions that parents and school staff want to see. Absolutely parents want results, not endless studies. Consultation with parents is of no value when not followed with timely improvements. Quick wins and tests to see which safety measures are most effective are a good way to find out what works best at given locations.
How this question is graded
Free text. A = names parents, school staff and municipal staff and attaches something concrete: an audit, measures, funding, timelines, or work delivered. B = one half only, consultation without measures or measures without consultation. C = points at an existing programme as enough. C- = vague, deflects, or denies the problem. Blank only where Walk On cannot judge local conditions. F is not used.
Jack Sandor's answerChildren’s safety around schools and playgrounds has to come before shaving a few seconds off a driver’s trip.
I’d work closely with parent groups, school staff and City staff to identify problem areas, but I also think we need to get much better at trying solutions quickly. Parents and school staff usually know where the dangerous crossings, speeding problems and poor sightlines are. Instead of waiting years for a major road redesign, the City should be willing to test small changes with temporary materials, see how they work in the real world, and adjust them based on what we learn.
This could mean piloting curb extensions, traffic calming, temporary barriers, changes to parking, or restricted vehicle access around a school at pickup and drop-off times. If something works, we can make it permanent. If it doesn’t, we can change it or try something else without having wasted years and a huge amount of money getting there.
I’d like to see Victoria use this kind of prototyping much more broadly. People want results, not endless studies. Where we can test an idea quickly and cheaply, measure what happens, and make a better decision based on real-world evidence, we should do it. That approach can help us improve streets, public spaces and City services faster, while reducing the risk of getting big decisions wrong. - 20% of this topic WLK-06 A
What will you do, in a 4 year term, to identify, prioritize and set time-lines to assure that pedestrian infrastructure is improved to meet the needs of the older and disabled members of your community?
Why this grade: Older adults and people with disabilities depend on safe sidewalks, crosswalks and good lighting infrastructure just as motorists depend on safe design of roads they drive on. When an older or disabled person hesitates to go out because of fear of falling or being struck by a vehicle, not only is their independence threatened, their social lives and the contributions they make to our communities decrease. You are correct in saying that sidewalks that work well for older and disabled folks work well for everyone. Additionally, people walking on our sidewalks help make us visible to one another and enliven and enrich our communities.
How this question is graded
Free text. A = names what to fix and the order it gets fixed in: an audit, named priorities, consultation with older and disabled residents, a timeline inside the term. B = real improvements with no process behind them, or continuing existing work. C = states the need and defers it, or one fix with no plan. C- = a problem with no action, or an answer about something else. Blank only where Walk On cannot judge local conditions. F is not used.
Jack Sandor's answerThis is something I think about a lot because of my own family. My 89-year-old grandmother recently moved to Victoria from the West End in Vancouver, and she specifically chose James Bay because it gives her the ability to live independently without relying on a car. She can walk to get groceries, go to appointments, visit friends and take care of most of her daily needs on her own. That independence matters enormously.
A lot of families eventually have the difficult conversation with an older parent or grandparent that they probably shouldn’t be driving anymore. When that happens, the quality of the pedestrian environment can determine whether giving up a license is a manageable transition or the beginning of losing a huge amount of independence.
There’s a saying that being able-bodied is a temporary condition, and I think there’s a lot of truth in that. Streets and sidewalks that work well for seniors and people with disabilities tend to work better for everyone. Over my first term, I’d push the City to systematically audit sidewalks, crossings and curb ramps on the routes older adults and people with disabilities use most. From there, I’d want the City to publish a prioritized list of improvements, with timelines and funding attached, and report publicly on our progress each year. The highest priority should go to routes connecting housing with grocery stores, medical services, community centers, parks, and transit.
Good pedestrian infrastructure is what allows people to keep living their lives as their mobility changes. As Victoria’s population ages, we should be designing our streets so that losing the ability or desire to drive doesn’t mean losing your independence.
Governance
A- 17% of this topic GOV-01 A
Do you support expanding shared or regional delivery of municipal services in the Capital Region?
How this question is graded
Yes/Partly = A, Unsure = C, No = F.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 17% of this topic GOV-02 A
Do you support creating a regional service that designs, builds and maintains local municipal infrastructure shared across Capital Region municipalities?
Why this grade: A yes to building one regional service that designs, builds and maintains infrastructure shared between municipalities here. No qualifiers attached to it.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Yes, only if full cost recovery is guaranteed for my municipality = B. No = C-. Full cost recovery is a named, checkable condition on a yes, so it takes the conditional-yes B. A No is C- rather than F because the question is about how services are organised and who runs them, which is the governance side of the split CLI-03 sits on the other side of. Unsure was typed C on three rows before 2026-09-13 and those rows were reset to blank on 2026-09-20, so the question now follows the shared policy. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 5 options - 17% of this topic GOV-03 A
If elected, what three steps would you take to put your region or municipality on a firmer financial footing?
How this question is graded
“Real financial resilience comes from increasing the productivity of land that's already served by infrastructure: letting neighborhoods incrementally thicken, encouraging redevelopment where roads and pipes already exist, building more value per acre instead of more acres that need public maintenance.” The Strong Towns approach thinks about revenue vs liabilities and the cost of replacing infrastructure as a key driver of municipal financial success. Next-increment intensification or better allows improved use of pipes, roads, and wires, increasing the economic base for the city while lowering vacancies (examples, strongtowns.org , archive.strongtowns.org ). No credit was given for/against for either a) sharing costs with neighbouring governments or b) asking for money from higher levels of government, both of which may have additional merit beyond the boundaries of the muncipality. A-level (excellent) answer: 1. a comment about density being linked to financial wellbeing (revenue side), 2. a comment about efficient use of that revenue (expenses side), 3. thinking about infrastructure liabilities and how to pay for them given the intergenerational problems. B-level (good) answer considers some of these principles, but likely doesn't consider both revenue and expenses. C-level (mixed) - may have other ideas about arbitrary efficiencies and doesn't provide a mechanism for doing the work they propose (e.g. "fill up the reserve fund" -- with what money?). F - working in the opposite direction of resilience (e.g. arbitrary property tax increase caps), or doesn't answer the question (e.g. "my municipality is on firm financial footing").
Jack Sandor's answer1: More efficient land use
The majority of the land in the CRD is dedicated to housing, which doesn't generate enough revenue in property taxes to pay for the maintenance and replacement of the infrastructure it requires. This means that over half of our regions' land is a financial net-negative, requiring subsidy from denser forms of land use. I want to see municipalities embrace townhomes, rowhomes, and houseplexes, which spread the cost of their infrastructure across more taxpayers.
2: Better regional transportation
Traffic and poor mobility has enormous financial costs, to say nothing of the environmental and social costs. Our region has long suffered from a lack of regional coordination, and this is especially true when it comes to transportation.
3: Better asset management and long-term planning
Local government has historically done a bad job of planning and saving for maintenance and replacement of key infrastructure projects. We must plan beyond four year election cycles. - 17% of this topic GOV-04 A
Do you commit to eliminating mandatory parking minimums for all land uses in your municipality by 2030?
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No/Decline = F. Parking minimums are pseudoscience that should be eliminated from city codes everywhere, and have been eliminated in Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Ottawa, and others across North America without any negative consequences (archive.strongtowns.org )
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 3 options - 17% of this topic REC-01 A
Do you support ensuring that local First Nations are represented in transit governance, such as on the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and the CRD Transportation Commission?
Why this grade: Yes to local First Nations holding seats on the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and the CRD Transportation Commission. No conditions set on it.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. No = C-, on the same reasoning as GOV-02 and TRN-04: the question is about who sits at the table, not about what gets built or funded. No candidate has answered No, so that letter is a rule rather than a record of how anyone was graded. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 3 options - 17% of this topic REC-02 B
Concerning our municipal government’s First Nations’ reconciliation and consultation practices, I support:
Why this grade: Argues in the written comment that the quantity of consultation is not the problem, and that local First Nations want a seat at the decision making table rather than more meetings. The critique is substantive but names no change he would make in office, so it lands in the middle.
How this question is graded
A = significantly more consultation practices. B = somewhat more. C = the current amount is enough. Written answers take the same ladder: A commits to partnership with local First Nations, B wants better consultation without committing to a change, C questions whether more is wanted. Nothing here has been graded C- or F.
Jack Sandor chose 1 of 7 optionsSee my response to REC-GEN, there's no space here
Also shared, ungraded
- Not graded GOV-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to governance, shared services, and municipal infrastructure, feel free to share your thoughts below.
With regard to "HFL-12-Victoria": I don't believe property taxes are a good mechanism to fund this issue, and as such would seek provincial or federal support. However, I would not let our infrastructure fall in to disrepair if it doesn't arrive.
Additionally, given that development cost charges, amenity contributions, and other fees imposed on new housing and development are paid for by homebuyers and renters, not developers, I don't feel this would be a fair way to pay for infrastructure, especially given the already enormously high cost of housing. I discuss this issue in more depth here: https://www.jacksandor.ca/blog/who-should-pay-for-growth - Not graded REC-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to First Nation transit governance or consultation practices, feel free to share your thoughts below.
As far as I know, the local nations aren't clamoring for more consultation, they want a real seat at the decision making table. Quantity of consultation does not seems to be the problem right now, and I don't believe that simply doing the same thing but in a greater quantity would produce better results. Ultimately, this should be guided by conversations with the nations.
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