Delta council candidate Sylvia Bishop is asking Fabian Milat to rescind his nomination for either council or Delta school board prior to the withdrawal deadline of Oct. 21.
Milat recently filed nomination papers for both offices, and intends to sit on council and school board simultaneously if elected.
"When someone runs for an elected office, they need to be 100 per cent committed to doing that job," said Bishop. "Being a councillor is a full-time job by itself, and the people of Delta deserve nothing less. I don't think running for two positions demonstrates the commitment that people expect from their elected representatives."
Bishop has also heard concerns about the fact Milat would collect two publicly-funded salaries simultaneously.
"The people I've spoken to while knocking on doors view the move as opportunistic," Bishop said. "They think it's so he can collect two taxpayer salaries."
Milat said he feels if he wins a seat on both council and school board it would be a positive thing for the community.
"I don't think it's opportunistic," he said, adding both are part-time positions and many councillors and trustees have careers.
He said having one representative on the board and council would benefit both sides in terms of cost sharing initiatives and other issues that affect both sides.
He said he has heard that people want the two levels of government to work together and having one elected official at both tables can help facilitate that.
"I think that's a little undemocratic of her to say that," said Milat, a three-term school trustee, about Bishop's call for him to withdraw from one of the races.
Bishop said Milat would be a welcome addition if he dedicated himself to one position or the other.
"Mr. Milat needs to choose. He should be running for one or the other, but not both. If he chose not to run for re-election as a school trustee and simply seek a council spot, I would welcome him and his ideas in the race."
Candidates can withdraw their name from the ballot any time before Oct. 21.
