Not an easy transition

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 16, 2008

A potential shift into Coldstream politics may not be what Pat Cochrane quite envisioned. First off is that while he lives in Coldstream, he is strongly associated with Vernon, especially after four terms on city council. He is not directly associated with the Coldstream community itself, and there is also the fact that as a veteran Vernon politician, he has often been a vocal advocate of amalgamation. If he were elected to Coldstream council this November, how would he reconcile his duties to protect the municipality's best interests when he has previously indicated it shouldn't exist? And it's a situation that is already garnering some debate. "Why would you (Cochrane) think that Coldstreamers, who have always had strong wishes to keep their own identity and maintain an arm's length relationship with Vernon, would not view you with great suspicion?" said Peter Peto, an outspoken critic of Coldstream council in a letter to the Coldstreamernews blog. "What do you stand for and what can you offer to Coldstream that we can't get from our own home grown candidates who don't have previous ties to Vernon politics or Vernon politicians?"

But the aspect that is really stirring things up is Cochrane's perceived reason for retiring from Vernon city hall and casting an eye towards Coldstream. While speaking to the media, Cochrane pointed out that Coldstream council meets at night and that would work better for his schedule running a business. "Everything we do (at Vernon council), except public hearings, takes place during my work hours," he said. It was a senior Coldstream official that pointed out to me that Cochrane not once mentioned how he may be able to assist the community, but only spoke about his workload. I certainly questioned the inference that political life in Coldstream may be easier than it is in Vernon.Any jurisdiction, no matter the size, has numerous meetings and responsibilities. In fact, everything Vernon has to deal with, is likely on the agenda in Coldstream as well.

But all of that aside, Cochrane has certainly proven himself to be a strong elected official during his four terms in office. He has been an advocate for downtown Vernon, keeping taxes in line and ensuring that the city's infrastructure deficiencies are addressed. He also been outspoken on pressing social issues, and he's taken on bureaucracy when he felt it had got completely out of hand. As an example, Cochrane took direct aim at city staff for launching construction while already working on 32nd Avenue and 39th Avenue. “Having both roads closed at the same time is a mistake,” he said. Or how about back in June when the Greater Vernon Services Committee came down heavy on secondary school graduates leaving their vehicles in no-parking zones while having photos taken at Polson Park. “It’s totally unnecessary,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane of the bylaw crackdown. “It’s a great picture opportunity and traffic can still get through. They aren’t creating any harm." I truly believe that Cochrane's tenure in office hasn't been self-serving but an attempt to try and improve the area he calls home. And at a time when current Coldstream council is in chaos and decisions like firing the fire chief are eroding public confidence, Cochrane could bring some experience and thoughtfulness to the table.But if Cochrane is serious about jumping into Coldstream politics, he needs to address some of the concerns that are starting to take root.