Back to basics
To serve our community through governance rooted in experience, a proven track record, accessible leadership, and an enduring commitment to supporting the heritage and traditions that makes Lantzville a community.
Mayor, District of Lantzville
Mark’s Top Priorities as Mayor
Role Alignment
When it comes to oversight and execution, who does what?
My administration will establish absolute clarity of the roles of Council and Staff. This ensures that strategic oversight remains the focus of council while empowering professional experts to execute operations efficiently. To restore financial discipline at the District, council must allow staff to develop a realistic preliminary budget for councils consideration and approval. Respecting the roles each plays in the financial planning process whilst adhering to strict budgetary timelines will save taxpayer dollars and prevent costly delays to our infrastructure projects. Just like a car, all the wheels need to be aligned to prevent wobble, as do the roles of Council and Staff.
Additional discussion…
A healthy community begins with a clear, collaborative, and professional Town Hall. As your Mayor, my vision for good governance relies on a fundamental principle: absolute clarity of roles between Council and Staff. When we respect these boundaries, we unlock the full potential of our local government to deliver exceptional results for you.
Leadership requires understanding our unique responsibilities. Council’s job is to listen to the community, debate the issues, and set the strategic, long-term vision for our municipality. Staff’s job is to act as the neutral, professional experts who take that vision and execute it efficiently, safely, and fairly.
When Mayor and Council champions role clarity, everyone wins. It prevents political interference, protects our dedicated municipal workers from burnout, and ensures that tax dollars are managed by qualified professionals. By fostering an environment of mutual respect, where Council steers the ship and staff rows the boat, we build a Town Hall that is stable, transparent, and built to serve. Together, we can create a culture of excellence where clear boundaries lead to unlimited progress.
Other examples used to define Role Alignment:
The governance-management distinction: The classic municipal standard separating political oversight from operational execution.
Legislative-administrative separation: The legal and structural boundary between council decision-making and staff implementation.
Policy versus operations: A straightforward way to contrast council’s role (setting policy) with staff’s role (executing operations).
Governance
Leading With Process
My administration will prioritize process-driven governance and strict adherence to provincial legislation to ensure our municipality operates with maximum efficiency and transparency. I believe that transparent and consistent processes provide fairness and equity to all parties. We will restore fiscal discipline by committing to the on-time adoption of our 5-year financial plans, preventing costly project delays and protecting taxpayer dollars from avoidable construction inflation. By returning to this disciplined planning approach, we will secure the funds necessary to maintain our essential infrastructure and guarantee the long-term financial health of our community.
Additional discussion…
Unlocking the full potential of Lantzville’s administrative team requires that the Mayor and Council must champion process-driven governance and demonstrate a proactive commitment to adapting to evolving provincial legislation. A successful mayoralty relies on strict adherence to the Community Charter and the Local Government Act, which dictate how B.C. municipalities must operate. In recent years, the provincial government has rapidly updated some laws—particularly surrounding housing density and public hearing requirements. Cooperating with the B.C. government and navigating these changes smoothly does matter as our success with applying for future infrastructure grant funding dollars depends on it.
Leading with process will be my number one priority, and I will start with how we draft and adopt the 5-year Financial Plan each year. This yearly process must include using the District’s financial policies [approved in 2025] in conjunction with the Finance Department lead review of the municipalities finances. For Council’s consideration and approval, the Director of Finance reports on the major capital projects and operational needs so council can achieve the service levels desired by the community as well as anticipated future needs. Through 2018 to 2021, council adopted the financial plan by early December in the same year. Starting in 2022, adoption of the financial plan has been delayed with the adoption of the plan in the following year. The current line-by-line review of our finances has been inefficient and is analogous to the idiom “stepping over dollars to pick up dimes”. To the point, on time adoption of the financial plan saves us money. Unlocking funds at the beginning of the year allows staff to tender our capital projects earlier when there is increased vendor competition. Delaying the adoption of the financial plan delays our projects from starting within the construction window (May to October). I have never met a Director of Finance who condones the late adoption of financial plans – time to get back to doing the basic things right!
FACT: Every $35K saved is a 1% reduction in our overall municipal spending which is a 1% tax reduction.
What is the problem with delaying projects? If a capital project is delayed to the next year, the rule of thumb for Municipal Administrators is to add another 12% towards the cost for the following year due to construction inflation. For example, now that Dickinson Road is now delayed to 2027, and with using 12% construction inflation for the Dickinson Road project valued at ~$6M, the additional cost would be $720K (equivalent to a 20.6% tax increase or if borrowed over 20 years a total cost of $1,106,772 or $55,338 per year). Delaying the adoption of the financial plan undoubtedly costs us dearly.
As your Mayor, my platform is focused on a clear, urgent priority: return to the disciplined practice of following the financial planning process and adopting our financial plan on time. Upholding our fiduciary obligation to residents requires council to put the community needs above political gain and further requires total transparency in financial decision making to ensure public monies are available to fund core services, prevent infrastructure failure, and provide a safety net for unexpected emergencies. We also have a duty to protect our community’s long-term financial health and close funding gaps, not widen them. Maintaining our roads, water mains, sewer system and facilities requires that money is set aside to pay for them. Saving is not as exciting as spending, but we must get back to basics and focus on the community’s needs.
Smart Growth
Balancing Our Tax Base for a Sustainable Future
To build a more resilient Lantzville, we must strategically diversify our tax base to reduce the financial burden currently placed on residential homeowners. By prioritizing a comprehensive review of our Official Community Plan, we will explore opportunities to welcome clean, light industrial and commercial businesses that create high-quality local jobs and sustainable revenue. This balanced approach will stabilize our property taxes while ensuring we have the funds necessary to upgrade essential infrastructure and maintain our community's high quality of life. In conclusion, we will pursue smart, thoughtful and sustainable growth through a comprehensive review of our Official Community Plan to diversify our tax base and build a resilient future for every resident.
Additional discussion…
FACT: In reference to our 2025 tax base, 96%* of total property assessments were ‘residential’ while only 3%** were ‘business and other’.
*$3,078,716 or 83% of total taxes collected; **$367,398 or 10% of total taxes collected. Source: www2.gov.bc.ca - Municipal tax rates and tax burden
A vibrant, resilient community requires a balanced financial foundation. As your Mayor, my growth management strategy focuses on a crucial goal: strategically diversifying our tax base. For too long, the financial responsibility of funding our infrastructure, parks, and public services have fallen squarely on the shoulders of residential homeowners. OCP compliant projects like ‘The Coastline Station’ help to shift the tax burden.
FACT: We are now due for a Comprehensive OCP Review, which occurs every 5-10 years.
The timing could not be more perfect for our community to have its say and address the question: Does Lantzville want to invite clean, light industrial operations and commercial businesses into our municipality to create a healthier, more sustainable economic mix to reduce the tax burden on residents?
The OCP Review will allow for a review of our community-wide goals and land-use designations based on changing census, infrastructure, and community sentiment. Historically Lantzville launched a major comprehensive review in 2016 to replace it's original 2005 OCP. By carefully planning our commercial and industrial zones, we can generate the robust tax revenues needed to upgrade our roads, utility networks, and community spaces without placing an unfair burden on local families. Taking a balanced approach will help keep property taxes predictable. Creating the opportunity to live, work and invest in the same community by fostering a business-friendly environment that attracts light industry and commercial businesses may even lead to creating high-quality local jobs, reducing daily commute times, and contributing towards a stable and resilient local economy.
Meet
Mark Swain
Originally from New Zealand, my family immigrated to Canada when I was seven years old. I grew up in Campbell River, then lived in Victoria and Vancouver, before returning to the Island in 2002. Lantzville quickly caught my attention and after a 2 year search, my family and I moved to Lantzville in 2011. I have a background in Science-Kinesiology and practice in the functional assessment of injured persons, return to work, and workplace ergonomics.
I have been actively involved in my community through coaching, volunteering with youth, serving on both the Regional District of Nanaimo Board and Nanaimo Regional Hospital District Board, and chairing the Central South Island Regional Advisory Committee and acting as an Ex-officio Board Director for the Island Coastal Economic Trust. I was first elected to the District of Lantzville council in 2015 followed by being elected to Mayor in 2018 where I continue to serve.
In my roles with the Island Coastal Economic Trust, I have been a strong advocate and supporter of agricultural land use. Also, I remain deeply committed to helping Lantzville enhance its economic resiliency by developing the village core area for the local community.
My work on the Nanaimo Hospital District Board has included consistent advocacy for equitable and affordable residential taxation in the face of significant cost escalation for future regional hospital capital projects. In December 2025 I received unanimous Board support of my motion to push the timeline of the much-needed Catheterization Lab by unlocking $50M of our region’s money. Advancing the Catheterization Lab funds to the provincial government will ultimately speed up local access to life saving emergency procedures following heart attacks.
Most importantly, I am an adaptable, diplomatic and dynamic leader who puts my community first and delivers results.
Why I Sought Re-Election?
I sought re-election for Mayor because I want to ensure future generations have the same opportunities to experience how special Lantzville is. This town provided my children a safe place to grow up, an excellent neighborhood school, and a strong sense of belonging. I want to provide our seniors and retirees a chance of remaining in an evolving community that allows them to age in place with comfort, dignity, safety, and independence.
Strong towns are built on connection and bringing residents together and I will continue to proudly support the pillars of our community: Legion 257, Rotary Club of Lantzville, Lantzville Volunteer Firefighters Association, Seaside Community Society and other volunteer groups that form our community's backbone. True leadership means engaging those groups and working hard to ensure these vital organizations are supported so they can continue to focus on uniting our residents and keeping our community spirit alive.
I did not run to fulfill a political ambition or for personal gain. I am ran because I love our town, I am deeply grateful for what it provides to my family, and I want to show my gratitude by working for residents while contributing to a sustainable and vibrant future.
Big Ideas, Real Impact
turning vision into value
Opportunity: Pierce Woods Marine Park
Vision Accomplishment: Village Core Improvement Plan
Collaboration: Seaview Daycare
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