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Election 2018: Q&A with Peter Humphreys

Candidate for Revelstoke City Council
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Current Job:

Co-owner Big Eddy Fuel Services – Truck driver

Why do you live in Revelstoke?

I have traveled through the area almost since the day I was born and have loved it. As I became older, the desire to leave the big city grew but the challenge with moving to a small community was always employment opportunities. When the opportunity arose to purchase this business, we jumped at the chance. At the time, houses were inexpensive, and we were able to sell our house in Calgary and buy here for less.

Why are you running for council?

I have been publicly critical of the last 2 Councils for their lack of communication, inability to rein in spending, and the amount of red tape and obscure rules that we are subject to. It was time to put my efforts where my mouth is and show I can make a difference.

Why do you think you are qualified for the job?

I have experience in municipal government as a CUPE local 38 member at the City of Calgary.

As a small business owner, I know the challenges of running an industrial based business in Revelstoke. I also know that when business is lean, there are always costs that can be cut.

What do you think the city should do to fund current and future infrastructure needs?

When discussing development, we have to remember that a considerable amount of the building that occurs is individual homeowners building homes to live in and not the “big bad out of town developer” that is usually referred to. The main thing about funding infrastructure is the balance. If you front load too much of the costs on to the builder, homeowners won’t be able to build. It also increases the demand for existing homes, pushing up prices, resulting in housing becoming even more unaffordable. The same affordability issues happen if too much of the burden is shifted onto the taxpayer. The key is reducing operating expenses. Offset the rising costs of infrastructure by cutting the City’s operating costs and increasing the tax base through more building.

What do you think the city should do to address affordability for the average citizen?

The answer to affordability is the same as Funding infrastructure, by lowering City spending. I don’t agree with taking tax money then trickling it back to tax payers less the administrative costs. Government should provide the basic services and leave as much money as possible in the tax payers pocket.

What other issues would you want addressed if you were elected?

Councillors do an excellent job of communicating during an election but can be difficult to contact once they are elected. I am one of the few candidates that have been active on social media and commenting on local issues long before the election. I use my own Facebook page to communicate during the election, so I can continue to communicate after I am elected.