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Healthy air advocate running for city council

A former business owner and long-time advocate for improving the city's air quality is running for city council.
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Dave Fuller

A former business owner and long-time advocate for improving the city's air quality is running for city council.

Dave Fuller, who owned the Ave Maria health food store for years and is now a business coach, said now is the time to step forward and be a candidate.

"It's been on my mind for a long time," he said Wednesday.

For a time, Fuller was president of the People's Action Committee for Healthy Air, which played a significant role in the 2008 civic election campaign by producing a report card rating candidates' positions on the city's air quality.

Fuller said he believes there is still room for improvement on that front particularly when it comes to the city's Lansdowne sewage plant.

"In terms of odour, I think there needs to be some upgrades to that," he said.

He also wants to make sure industry's commitment to clean air does not slip, noting it's been a decade since the issue was at its peak.

Fuller also played a role in the successful campaign to eliminate flouride from the city's water.

"That was actually a small campaign compared to the air quality, because I just spent a couple months on the fluoride but I spent years on the air quality and it's something that I'm more proud of because the impact is much more substantial," he said.

Fuller said he can also bring his business experience to the table.

"I get hired by companies to do two things: provide oversight and help with accountability," he said. "And those are two areas that could be seen as lacking in terms of huge increases in budget items and even the recent fiasco with the management salaries and the overtime."

However, Fuller said his "real passion is people in terms of making a difference in their lives."

On that note, said he will advocate for more community activities and engagement with city residents.

"I think that loneliness really is one of the biggest issues in our community, not only in the winter but with the seniors and even the young couples," Fuller said. "How do we engage these people and make them feel welcome to our community."

A kickoff to his campaign is planned for Thursday at the lawn in front of city hall, 10:30 a.m. start.

Incumbents Murry Krause, Brian Skakun, Susan Scott, Terri McConnachie, Frank Everitt and Garth Frizzell have confirmed they are running as has newcomer Kyle Sampson.

Nomination packages for city council are now available at city hall while those for school board and regional district can be picked up at the Fraser-Fort George Regional District office.

The nomination period runs from Sept. 4 to Sept. 14 and the campaign period, when election signs can be put up, starts Sept. 21 and runs until general voting day on Oct. 20.