A vote for experience, commitment,
and integrity
Because our community deserves to thrive
I have been a resident of the Cowichan Valley for over 60 years;
the community has been good to me and I feel the
time is right to give something back.
I would be honoured to serve you as a councillor for North Cowichan.
ABOUT ME
I spent most of my working life as a teacher/administrator for S.D. 79, but have also held many “blue collar” jobs, including a summer stint at the Crofton Mill, working in many capacities for the City of Duncan, pulling lumber on the chain in Youbou, and bartending at the old Maple Bay Inn, now the Lion Rampant.
I have spent hundreds of voluntary hours coaching within and outside of the school system, and sat for 10 years on the board of Literacy Now Cowichan. I was also on the original organizing committee for CMHA that established the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk for at risk youth in the Valley.
I graduated from the University of Victoria, and completed my Master's in Leadership and Learning from Royal Roads University in 2004. I have been married to my lovely wife, Sylvia, for 37 years, and have two sons, Jesse and Kevin, of whom I am fiercely proud.
THE ISSUES
North Cowichan is facing some very significant challenges, both immediate and long term. Aging infrastructure, rising property taxes, and homelessness are only a few. Solutions will need all of our best efforts, creating and following a vision for our community that truly represents consensus. Part of that vision can be found in North Cowichan's Official Community Plan, developed with considerable community input and expertise from Municipal staff. It is a plan that is strategic, thoughtful, and visionary. While it is a living document, it is an important component of a way forward, and I believe it should only be amended for extraordinary reasons.
As a councillor, I would advocate for the following:
that is careful and considers
climate challenges and
the well-being of future generations.
Development
the backbone of our community and our country.
Too many have been forced to move or close. Council needs to support small business in every reasonable way.
Support for Small Businesses
Social Housing
for our over 400 homeless
in the Valley. Mental health
issues and drug addiction
will not be solved in the
streets. Housing is the first
step to recovery. The provincial and federal governments must be partners, as they have been in the past. As the saying goes,
"A society is best judged by how it treats its most unfortunate."
for low to middle-income earners. The average house price in North Cowichan is $750,000. A studio suite rental in the Valley's newest
building is $2,100/month.
For whom is this affordable?
Truly Affordable
Housing
Financial
Accountability
especially for municipal projects. Feeding at the public trough must stop.
It is time to put a halt to any new projects until our fiscal house is in order.
to locate in the Municipality; homeowners cannot
continue to bear the
ever-increasing tax burden.
Council needs to investigate where other municipalities have been able to create revenue streams beyond residential taxes.
Pursuing Industry
Give me your vote on election day
and put me to work, for you.
