The look to replace Coun. Dan LeBlanc, with another member of council on the Community and Social Impact Regina board of directors, will continue.

The search will continue after the recommended appointment of Coun. Bob Hawkins, to replace LeBlanc, was defeated in a council vote this week.

LeBlanc was removed as a non-voting member of the board of directors of Community and Social Impact Regina last month following a motion from Mayor Sandra Masters.

The motion came after LeBlanc, as a lawyer representing a city councillor and a resident, took newly hired city manager Niki Anderson to court over homelessness funding in the municipal budget.

Kelly Miller, a North Central resident, spoke against Hawkins’ appointment.

“I feel that Coun. Dan LeBlanc was punished for advocating too strongly for homelessness and that in the process, our inner city community has been punished by no longer having its advocacy.”

“He has a history where he continuously pushed against community survey results and the feelings of our community on a number of matters,” she continued. “He does not seem to have the inner city community’s interests as his interests, and I don’t feel he would serve us as well as councillor LeBlanc.”

Miller said as a North Central Resident; she feels Hawkins won’t represent the community.

“I do not feel that Councillor Bob Hawkins is a suitable replacement for the Community Safety and Well-Being Regina. I do not feel that he will represent our inner city community to the same degree and the same issues Dan LeBlanc did.”

Community and Social Impact Regina was created last year to advance the city’s community safety and well-being plan to address several pressure points and social issues that present barriers to safety and well-being in Regina.

Council will now return to a private executive committee meeting to try and find the next replacement for LeBlanc.