Prince George entrepreneurs Albert Koehler and Harry Ulch unveiled their plans to run for city council on Tuesday.
Engineer and business owner Albert Koehler has lived in Prince George for 14 years and said he wants to focus on building a positive future in the city.
"I'm quite plugged into the community and serving on council would be the ultimate opportunity to serve," Koehler said. "I'm quite passionate about it, I like the city and I would like to contribute."
Koehler said he is committed to ensuring the city, "provides the services we need, at a price we can afford."
Koehler and his wife, Jutta, immigrated to Canada from Germany in 1985 with a dream, two young children and few thousand dollars.
"We were in Vancouver with pretty much nothing," he said. "[But] it was our dream to start a new life in Canada."
Koehler founded engineering firm Tribotec International Ltd. in 1986 in Vancouver. In 1997 the company opened a branch office in Prince George and Koehler moved to the North to oversee its operations.
"As soon as I was up here I was sold," he said. "The unlimited opportunities are still there. We just have to be positive minded."
Koehler has served on the boards of the Prince George Symphony, Community Future and Barkerville Heritage Trust. He is also the president of the Northern Technology and Engineering Society of B.C.
He has a PhD in engineering from the Technical University of Aachen.
Bluecollar businessman
Harry Ulch spent 31 years working for B.C. Rail before going into business on his own.
Ulch and his wife, Wendy, owned and operated a motel, dump truck and transport truck over the past two decades.
"I can make real, bluecollar business decisions," Ulch said. "We have to hold the line on taxes and stop raising the price of utilities."
Ulch ran for council unsuccessfully in 2008. However, he said, he still believes he has the common touch needed on city council.
"I bring the voice of the common people," Ulch said. "I'd be proud to give a little back."
Ulch said his focus would be on providing core services such as road paving and snow removal, and promoting transparency in government.
"I am for full public disclosure of city business," he said.
Rogers to announce Wednesday
Mayor Dan Rogers will officially announce his plan to run for reelection tonight at an event at the Prince George Italian Club.
Since August Rogers has said he intends to seek a second term in the mayor's office, and sixth on city council. However, tonight he will officially unveil his election platform .
"I still think voters want us to get back to our priorities... paying attention to our core infrastructure, including roads, and making sure we are representing the tax payer," Rogers said in a previous interview with the Citizen.
Rogers served on city council from 1993 to 2005, when he was defeated in a tight race against incumbent mayor Colin Kinsley. In 2008 he ran again and defeated fellow council veteran Don Zurowski.
Currently the only other contender who has announced an intention to run for mayor is Coun. Shari Green - a one-term councillor and small business owner.
Rogers campaign launch event will take place at 7 p.m. tonight.
