Brad Hodge, owner/operator of a small information technology service and support company, has lived in B.C. since 1998 and in Squamish since 1999. He is married with three children.He said he thought about running for council in the past, but was "more oriented toward running my business. Now that the business is a going concern, I now feel I can devote the time to helping the community move forward." Economic development and affordable housing are two of the areas Hodge highlighted as areas where he would like to help Squamish progress. He cited Alliston, Ont. where his parents live as a community of similar size with similar challenges, but one major advantage: An anchor employer, namely Honda of Canada. Hodge said that while a car manufacturer needn't be the type of employer Squamish works to attract, "It's (Honda) a large employer with decent wages and benefits to help drive the economy. I'd like to get to work to help attract that kind of a business to town." He added that while promoting outdoor recreation and tourism has its benefits, it can only take a community so far economically. "I just don't think the boutique town/bedroom community thing is working that well for us," Hodge said. "I think we've seen the drawbacks to that approach that's (tourism) the first thing when the economy goes down that people stop spending on." Hodge lives in the Bracken Heights Co-op Housing development in Brackendale in fact, he's currently president of the co-op. He said he'd like to see the co-op model used more widely in the community's efforts to promote housing affordability.Brad Hodge InformationWebsite: http://www.bradhodge.caFacebook: "Elect Brad Hodge for District of Squamish Council"
