hansma, our local choice

Hard work forms Hansma’s values
Tim Fitzgerald
Jan 15 2006
vernonmorningstar.com/

Work is something Will Hansma hasn’t shied away from. From his upbringing on the family farm in Langley to his current life as a pressman, Will Hansma knows the value of an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.

“I can’t ever remember not having at least two jobs,” said the Liberal candidate for Okanagan Shuswap. “I’m still living like that.”

Besides his job as pressman with a Kelowna printer, Hansma is serving his fourth term as mayor of Spallumcheen. While one job puts food on the table — the other is more of a passion than work.

Politics may have lost its lustre in the public eye, but Hansma still loves the job. He got his first taste of political life serving two terms on the school board in Langley in the 1980s.

But as Langley’s rural lifestyle gave way to urban sprawl, Hansma decided he wanted to afford his children a quieter lifestyle away from the hectic life of the Lower Mainland.

“I wanted my sons and daughter to have the same kind of experiences I had growing up,” said Hansma, who will be celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary with his wife Wilma later this year. “I wanted a rural experience for them. I was brought up in a household where a good work ethic was taught and I wanted those same values for my family. And a lot of those values come with farming.”

Hansma and his family decided on Spallumcheen and made the move in 1992. He immediately leased 260 acres an got down to work. It would be four years before Hansma returned to politics. In 1996 he was elected to council, and two years later he would take over as mayor, a position he has not relinquished. Hansma was even acclaimed mayor in the November municipal elections, no small feat in Spallumcheen — a municipality known for having its share of concerned citizens. This is the township’s first acclimation for mayor since Second World War, according to Hansma.

“I think people are quite satisfied with what I’ve done for Spallumcheen. I’ve been very inclusive and have always had an open-door policy. It’s that same type of style I will try to bring to the table if I am elected MP.”

The experienced municipal politician is going to have to use that strong work ethic if he hopes to convince voters he’s the right choice to represent the riding in Ottawa.

The Liberals are dropping in the polls and Hansma placed third in the last federal election in June of 2004. Hansma garnered 11,380 votes, or 22.5 per cent of the 50,636 votes cast. Darrel Stinson returned to Ottawa with 23,258 votes, or 45.9 per cent. NDP candidate Alice Brown placed second with 12,381 votes, or 24.5 per cent.

Yet Hansma is still optimistic there is an appetite for change in the riding.

Conservative candidate Colin Mayes is somewhat unknown in Vernon, where the bulk of the votes lie.

“It’s very difficult to take votes away from an incumbent and Darrel had a loyal following. But at the same time he dropped 20 per cent in the polls in the last election.”

And while all signs point to the Conservatives forming the next government — possibly even a majority — he believes Paul Martin can salvage a minority government. Hansma said polls can’t always be trusted and there is still a large portion of the electorate that hasn’t made up their mind. And despite what some may say, Hansma said he can hold his head up while he carries the Liberal banner.

“I’m still very proud of what the Liberal team has done for Canada, despite a few bad apples in the bushel. I am proud to be Canadian and I feel being Canadian has come from Liberal policy. You can’t govern from the extreme right or left and we’ve seen both of the other parties simply moving to the centre.”

He said despite turbulent times in Ottawa, Paul Martin was able to accomplish significant projects, including the new deal for municipalities.

“That’s the type of accomplishment that will bring millions into communities across B.C. and Stephen Harper has said he will kill the deal if he’s elected. That will have a significant impact on the Okanagan Shuswap.”

Hansma said he will also push the federal and provincial governments for more infrastructure money to improve roads in the area, including the corridor between Chase to the Alberta border.

“They originally built these roads, now they need to step up and maintain and upgrade them so we can move our products to market. I’ve always stood up for my constituents. I think my record speaks to that.”