Prince George goes to the polls Nov. 19 to determine who will be their municipal leaders for the next three years.
In an effort to better inform the community on the 24 candidates running for a seat on Prince George municipal council, The Citizen sent out a form to all hopefuls with a series of questions that we hope will reveal their histories, priorities, qualifications and personalities.
Here are what they had to say.
My first occupation was an auto painter at the age of 19. At this age I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Soon after, I returned to school to become an Electronic Engineering Technologist. This occupation brought me to Prince George in 1995 to work for Industry Canada in spectrum management. In 1997 my wife Loretta and I started our first business in downtown Prince George, in 1999 it became Zoe's Java house.
From the beginning I have been involved in a number of community roles. In 2000 I was a Director with the DBIA. During this period our board pushed for the changes that are seen today on Third Ave. In 2002 we had the first of our two children so community work took on more informal roles.
During the 2008 election I actively encouraged candidates that there are many benefits to having a downtown that is connected with green space and the river. In 2009-2010 I was involved with the Smart Growth on the ground planning process. I was then selected to be one of the community representatives for a week long Smart Growth planning process. The outcome was a community designed vision for the Prince George city center. I am currently a Director with the Prince George Chamber of Commerce.
If I do not already have a good understanding of what I am dealing with I have a remarkable knack for bringing myself up to speed in a short period of time. I am also open to a wide diversity of ways to approach problems.
I have an excellent understanding of municipal council responsibility. I believe there needs to be people in council who are willing to stick their neck out and ask hard questions. Council should be a challenge if you truly represent the people and I am up to that task. I love this community and want it to be seen for the great place that it is.
I am a third generation workaholic and I'm proud of it. Our city has many issues that require attention; we need candidates that are willing to work very hard.
I see our ongoing tax increases as an issue that requires additional attention from staff and council. The province is on the way to creating a municipal auditor general. Let's be proactive and be first on the list of B.C. communities for the right reasons this time. Our image plays a huge role in our growth. It's time to show the world that we are a great community to do business, go to school, raise a family and live. We also need to get a better handle on our road maintenance.
We have our city staff and citizens to draw from for great ideas to tackle our issues. With input I will ensure that in council I will rally support and ask the difficult questions.
I want to ensure we end above inflation tax increases and ensure we become a community of choice.
