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.
Incumbent, running for councillor
Over the past six years I have had the honour and privilege of serving as your elected representative.
I have worked hard on your behalf to directly influence positive change in Prince George.
I am a regional health-care professional with 33 years of work experience. I currently work part time at UHNBC as a clinical neurophysiology technologist. I previously owned and operated two Spanish restaurants in downtown Prince George and I have held senior management positions in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors.
My involvement and contributions to our community, as a city councillor, a director on the Regional District of Fraser Fort George and community leader are many. Some examples include: participated as a panellist during the Earth Day symposium at UNBC; climate action workshop presenter; Fraser Basin Council presenter on local government perspectives on sustainability; participated as a community leader in the Minerva Foundation women's leadership training; facilitated health and wellness workshops for women in trades training and I sit as a city representative on a
number of committees.
In local government it is important to have effective leadership, integrity and a long-term vision.
I have consistently demonstrated these qualities. If re-elected I will continue to work hard on your behalf and strive to find the best and most sustainable solutions to ensure Prince George continues to have a diverse and stable economy, affordable housing, sound infrastructure, quality land, air and water, civic pride, strong neighbourhoods, safer streets and a city-wide reduction in crime, a green city with green practices, a vibrant and liveable downtown and govern in a manner that keeps tax rates and spending within our community's affordability limit. These are all key considerations in determining quality of life in Prince George, and all have a direct influence on Prince George's ability to attract and retain people, to grow our community's tax base and develop a sustainable community.
I feel it is important to know the community's affordability limit and to manage and operate within it. To help address this I presented a motion to have the finance and audit committee work with city staff to develop a long-term debt reduction strategy.
This along with an asset management and risk management strategy will be developed in the near future and presented to council.
I ran for city council six years ago because I wanted to contribute, in a positive way, to the long-term economic, social, environmental and cultural betterment of our community. I value the many strong working relationships I have developed over the past six years with individuals and groups in government, health, education, industry, business, and community sectors.
Together we are all working for the betterment and good of the community and it is with this same clear sense of purpose, passion and leadership that I am seeking your endorsement of a third term on city council.
