The last three years have certainly been an interesting experience as a rookie politician – you get to learn a lot more about your community than you could imagine. I have had the pleasure of living and sometimes working in Squamish for over 20 years, so my passion for this little piece of heaven has long been strong. It can be interesting to hear some of the newer residents who have moved here for their own reasons also feel so strong about their passion for Squamish, but in the same sentence try to exclude long-standing activities which have built and supported the community.
Our community needs a good balance of industry, commercial business and recreation to truly be healthy in the long run. The district’s current five-year financial plan calls for continuous substantial increases in both residential and business taxation, to a level I do not believe is sustainable. The only alternative to cutting services is to develop new revenues, and the best possible source is a solid industrial tax base. Aside from the tax revenue, these entities provide family supporting jobs to the community, which we also lack. Any industrial development should understand the need for community social license and environmental performance so it benefits us on all levels.
The next few months will be an interesting time as many candidates will compete for your vote to lead our community for the next four years. The municipal level of government can have a very serious financial impact on taxpayers, so it is very important to select your candidates well. Connecting the dots from decisions made in council to the taxpayer is an absolute must. As well, the understanding of decisions that impact the business reputation of Squamish is vital, and this is especially true when the economy softens. Once the candidate slate is set for your consideration I hope that strong consideration is given to candidate’s history in those areas, be they in business, community groups, or previous office.
I have had the pleasure of working with the current council for this term. While we did not always agree, we did have a good working relationship and managed to move several significant files forward.
Mayor Rob Kirkham has truly been a great representative of our community, and I have enjoyed working with our great staff team to focus on delivering better customer service to our constituents. My work and personal commitments will not allow me to run this time, but I thank everyone for your past support.
