As part of our ongoing election coverage, the Times Review has posed five questions to the candidates for mayor and council. If you have a question you’d like to ask the candidates, please e-mail it to editor@revelstoketimesreview.com for consideration.
Our first question is:
Please introduce yourself and explain what you do in Revelstoke. Why are you running for office? What for you is the biggest issue facing Revelstoke?
Michael Brooks-Hill
Hello Revelstoke! My name is Michael Brooks-Hill and I would like to be your new mayor. I have lived and worked in Revelstoke for the past 12 years. I originally came here to work and to ski, but have stayed because of the warm community, the stunning natural beauty and wonderful people I have met.
I work in the silviculture industry — treeplanting and brushing around this area. I am a seasonal worker, and believe I can offer a lot of time and focus to the job of mayor. I am running because I want to see a change in the leadership of this town, and I saw no options being offered except for the same tired roads we have been down before.
For years now, election after election, I hear the same complaints again and again. The city is spending too much money, taxes are too high, and it is time for a change. Yet, it is the same people being elected time after time — largely because there is no one running against them. That is why I am running for mayor: to offer people another option, to give people a chance to vote for change.
Mark McKee
I moved to Revelstoke 37 years ago to manage Style Trend Clothiers. I bought the business and sold it 33 years later in 2009. In 1993 I started Revelstoke Mobility. I was a representative for Telus in Revelstoke until I sold my shares to my daughter this year. Currently I manage my own commercial properties.
I served on city council off and on for 15 years. I was a councillor for nine years from 1990-1999, then mayor of Revelstoke for two terms from 2002-2008. These were very busy and positive years for Revelstoke. I did not run in the 2008 or 2011 elections.
Whether in or out of office, I have been deeply involved in numerous organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, Revelstoke for a Safe Trans Canada Highway, Revelstoke Railway Museum, Rotary club, Glacier Challenge slow pitch tourney, Revelstoke Ski Club, Revitalization, Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation, Revelstoke Community Energy Corporation, Revelstoke Community Housing Society, and Economic Development Commission.
I was prompted to enter politics again because right now Revelstoke needs a new way of doing business. I would like to maintain economic development and population expansion rather than see a decline. We need to listen to our citizens, our city workers and our business community, and we need to act strongly and positively. We need a mayor and council that not only works together and make decisions together but has good strong ties with all of our constituents.
I plan to bring less talk and more action to city hall. Revelstoke is our home. Let’s make Revelstoke a better place.
Dave Raven
I am the current Mayor of the City of Revelstoke, having served for the last six years. I am a retired Professional Forester whose career included several senior leadership positions with the Ministry of Forests and was the District Manager in Revelstoke prior to retirement in 2010. I chose Revelstoke to raise my family, and I have a daughter and granddaughter here.
I am running for Mayor to offer my experience, skills, dedication and integrity to the community and to complete many of the initiatives that I have worked on for the city. While he notes the downsizing and reorganizations at city hall, and the cultural changes with a greater focus on efficient client services in the last three years, the goal has been to improve service levels within existing budgets. I note the decreases in the city’ s debt in both 2013 and in 2014 and the increases in reserves for the future. My personal leadership includes dedication and commitment to hard work, austerity and conservative spending of tax dollars, limited personal expenses and travel, and careful consideration of all budget items protecting tax dollars.
I would like to complete the restructuring of the city’s finances, address the needs of a balanced economy and protecting the active healthy and safe lifestyle that Revelstoke enjoys.
I respectfully asks for your support.