Current job/career: I currently am part of the mgmt. team at Southside Market and have worked there since July. Prior to that, I was a manager with Save on Foods for 12 years. I worked in many different locations all over the lower mainland, Vancouver Island and in northern BC. This allowed me to be a part of many different communities, experience different cultures and to see what worked well along with ideas that haven’t.
Why do you live in Revelstoke?
I moved here in 2015 and since that time, I have fallen in love with our town and decided that I didn’t want to move again. Ultimately an employment change was necessary and the opportunity to help manage at Southside Market arose which I jumped at. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made for various reasons. Working with a local family instead of a multi billion-dollar corporation and most importantly it allowed me to have roots and remain in the town that I want to call home with my girlfriend.
Why are you running for council?
I have always been vastly interested in politics. I am running for Council because I saw a need for change and I believe I can make a positive contribution. City Councils are there to set policy and guide the community in a certain direction. One of the main issues I would like to tackle immediately would be what I see as a spending crisis. The rate of taxation is too high, and I believe I would be a good voice and new set of eyes to start finding savings in order to get the city well on its way to paying off our debt.
Why do you think you are qualified for the job?
I believe I am qualified for the job. I have a lot of experience when it comes to listening, working and dealing with the public as well as a good understanding of financials. I am a firm believer that city hall needs to be run more like a business and I have the experience and understanding of how to do that. Having worked with the public for the past 12 years, I understand people, I am empathetic and able to hear both sides. I promise if elected, I will give 110 percent and will truly be committed to Revelstoke.
What do you think the city should do to fund current and future infrastructure needs?
I believe developers must be responsible and pay a fair share of new infrastructure. Citizens have shouldered more than their share long enough. We have to be wise and fair with developer rates and create a good working relationship with developers. I believe we need to look at other areas of revenue, such as working with the BC Govt to implement a new resort/hotel tax that would only be charged to people staying in hotels. No permanent Revelstoke local or business would pay it, and the money raised would go towards building new infrastructure.
What do you think the city should do to address affordability for the average citizen?
In order to address the lack of affordability in town, we need to start with housing. Begin licensing all vacation rentals and all those who don’t license would be fined accordingly. This should encourage some to move to long term rentals. We should encourage homeowners to build secondary suites for long term rentals by creating tax breaks or fee reductions etc. We should continue to work with for profit and not for profit developers in order to build more affordable units.
What other issues would you want addressed if you were elected?
Communication channels from City hall must improve immediately. I would request transparency in relation to council and mayoral expenses by allowing the public access as much as possible. I would support more open houses/ public forums thus allowing discussions for topics such as DCC’s or new infrastructure. My goal is to ensure that the citizens of Revelstoke no longer feel they have lost a voice and that city hall once again works in partnership with them.