Ahead of the Oct. 15 municipal election, CFJC Today asked candidates for Kamloops City Council to complete a questionnaire, offering voters the chance to evaluate their candidacies.
QUESTIONNAIRE:
Describe yourself, your occupation and your historical connection to the Kamloops area.
To describe myself in one word – a workhorse. For most of my adult working life, I have been in commercial flat roofing, all while putting countless volunteer hours in a variety of community cycling projects. I am currently foreman at Alpha Roofing and Sheet Metal. This involves the delicate balancing of the well-being of my crew while producing enough work to make the project profitable. I moved to Kamloops in 2014 in pursuit of more affordable housing, and a better lifestyle. In my experience, the best way to integrate into a new community is to volunteer. Since the day I moved to Kamloops I have been volunteering and contributing to the cycling community in any way I can. It is my hope to use this opportunity to be on council as a means to contribute to the entire community of Kamloops.
What differentiates you from the other candidates?
To the best of my knowledge, I am one of, if not the only, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. blue collar workers on the ballot. The city council should be a portrait of the entire population and I think it has been some time that someone of a similar work history to me has had a seat at the table.
What do you think is the best way to resolve disagreements or conflicts with your peers, those in a different department or those in a different jurisdiction?
Respect, acknowledgement, and listening are key in resolving disputes. Conflicts do not persist if we take the time to listen and focus on solving the problem instead of fixating on being right.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing the City of Kamloops and how would use your elected position to address it?
The biggest issue currently facing the City of Kamloops is public safety. I would like to see a priority placed on enforcing bylaws on BC Housing and similar service providers. In no way am I trying to blame or demonize our marginalized population; I just don’t think it’s unreasonable to hold everyone in the city to the same standard.
The return of the “Community on Patrol” program that was previously operated in partnership between the City of Kamloops and the RCMP would be a great benefit. As a community, we would all profit from the opportunity to contribute to the safety and well-being of Kamloops in a safe and meaningful way under the guidance of the RCMP.
How do you plan to involve Kamloops residents in your decision-making?
By listening. Anyone who was tried to reach out to me during this campaign can attest to the fact that I am quick to respond and willing to make the time to answer any and all questions.
What does a sustainable future for Kamloops and area look like to you and what does it need from mayor and council?
The future success of Kamloops will require densification of our urban centres and an increase of land zoned for industrial use. This will provide the city the required tax base for maintenance and upkeep of our existing infrastructure. It will also allow the development of new infrastructure in addition to creating more affordable housing opportunities for those needing to rent or looking to enter the real estate market. As a council, we will need to work on streamlining the permitting process and making the appropriate zoning amendments so developers can move forward with these kinds of projects.
