On Oct. 20, Prince George residents will pick one mayor, eight councillors and five school trustees. The ballot will have two mayoral candidates, 13 councillor candidates and 11 school trustee candidates. There are also 15 candidates running in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.
PrinceGeorgeMatters has sent out a list of questions to those vying for a seat in public office.
Name: Chris Wood
Running for: City councillor
Age: 41
Number of years lived in Prince George: 11
Current neighbourhood: Westwood
Occupation: Tutor – K to University – Math, English and STEM
Reason community would recognize your name: Working with children to reach their potential
What is the most important issue facing Prince George, and how do you propose to deal with it?
Fiscal responsibility with proper risk management.
1). Reduce the city manager's ability to make budget amendments up to $1 million. Reduced to $500,000.
2). Open up city capital assets, including vehicles, for rental/lease to businesses open for more than one year and current city demand.
3). Dispose of city assets with two consecutive years of minimal/no use.
4). No overtime pay for salaried employees.
5). No loans to individuals/businesses.
6). All sale of city land will be on a five-year lease-to-own basis, with the five-year final sale being based on completion of the land improvement, which started the change of ownership process.
7). Petitioning the provincial government for permanent funds to fund an emergency preparedness manager to coordinate during wildfire season alleviating overtime situations.
8). Freeze property tax increases to 2 per cent, with the exception driven by referendum choices by the community. All details related to property tax increases, for the referendum, must be available and posted during the time of the referendum.
9). Pursue additional event-based tourism, to drive the local economy.
How should Prince George address the issue of crime in the city?
1). Police education program on how to better secure your home.
2). Street patrols of entertainment areas open late at night.
3). Education programs about proper firearm safety, and legality.
4). Education programs about assault and the legal ramifications it has on one's employment eligibility after graduation.
What is your specific reason for running?
Fiscal responsibility with proper risk management.
Where can the city spend less?
Business subsidies for businesses open longer than two years.
Where should the city be investing more?
Creation of a third business improvement area in the Hart.
What new business or feature would you like to see in Prince George?
Provincial museum of clean technology science.
Next time you’re walking in the woods and you come face-to-face with a Sasquatch, what do you do?
Ask him if he thinks Avengers 4 will be a time-travel movie.
If the next city council does something film-worthy, who would play you in the film?
Nathan Fillion
Complete the sentence...
When I’m not at home or at work, you can find me:...writing my next screenplay.
The most random, yet interesting fact about me is: People once thought I was the minister of children and families of B.C. in 1997. It was a co-op position.
My favourite beverage is: Rootbeer
For Christmas/Hanukkah/the gift-giving season, I would like:...donations made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in my name.
The best park in/near to Prince George is: Cottonwood Park
If Prince George didn’t exist, I’d be living in: The Okanagan
When I need some pump-up music, I listen to: Pump up the Jam
