Ahead of the Oct. 17 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 professional background, and why you’re running for public office in Kamloops?
I have been a resident in Kamloops for 50 years, 40 of those years were spent as the owner and manager of a specialty contracting business. I spent many years volunteering with community groups such as minor hockey as well as board work with business and trades training associations.
I consider serving on council as a community service. I have been volunteering and serving my community for many years. My family has benefited greatly from being residents of Kamloops, and I hope our city continues to thrive.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing the City of Kamloops and how would you use your elected position to address it?
One of the biggest issues is growth and the ability of the city to catch up to that growth. That includes infrastructure, civic and public facilities, recreational facilities, both sporting and arts/culture and programming to match residents’ needs.
Supporting and renewing the city’s strategic plan, which ties into master plans such as the recreation plan, transportation plan, to name just a few.
Following a term highlighted by infighting and tension at city hall that impacted Kamloops’ public image, how would you ensure civil discourse and good governance would take place between yourself, fellow elected officials and city staff?
Keep in mind that the councillors were all directors on the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) and the Thompson Regional Health Board. Throughout the past four years there have been no issues with civil discourse, privacy/confidentiality, or governance. The root of the problem at city council rests with the mayor.
Considering recent years of large municipal tax increases in Kamloops, how would you address the city’s tax rate going forward?
Find ways to increase taxation revenue so that we can provide the level of service our residents are accustomed to. Gain revenue from outlying areas (those that are geographically located on our city boundaries) that utilize our city and our amenities but do not contribute through taxation. Also, to remedy the lost opportunities for taxation by re-vamping our tax classifications to add revenue from businesses/corporations operating like utilities/heavy industry (data centres) continue to work with staff to find cost efficiency wherever possible.
As major infrastructure projects are on the horizon in Kamloops, how would you prefer the city go about gaining the electorate’s approval – via referendum or the alternative approval process (AAP)? Why?
I still favour the use of the AAP as it is significantly more cost effective than a referendum. If timing for borrowing approval for large projects within the Recreation Master Plan coincides with a general election or a by-election that is already bringing voters to the polls, then a referendum would be the right process.
What are your thoughts on communication between the City of Kamloops and its residents? Are there areas of improvement you’d like to see?
We are living in a changed world, communication and how best we receive it differs from person to person. With no daily or weekly newspaper delivered to doorsteps or neighbourhood boxes, our reach into people’s homes is limited. Despite our best efforts we will have gaps. Mail outs could perhaps be tried, but it will be very difficult to quantify success or value.
Even today, after every media outlet has covered this local election, there are many residents that do not realize that there is an election and what day it is to be held.
