By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 28, 2008
Respect. Harmony. The Dark Side. Open meetings. Transparency.
There was somewhat of a common theme as to how new, would-be Vernon councillors would handle communication with the public if elected, after the question was asked of them at an open forum for Vernon councillor candidates Monday night. The forum, which drew a crowd of close to 250 people, was held at the Schubert Centre, hosted by the Vernon Taxpayers’ Association.
“If you don’t have harmony in the house, there’s chaos everywhere,” said candidate Ray Carling, the first to speak on the question, the only one of the evening in which almost all the new candidates gave an answer.“We have to build unity in the house.”
For Doug MacAulay, communicating with the public is a matter of respect.“It’s about elected officials respecting the people who elected them, but it goes both ways,” said MacAulay. “People need to respect the people they elected. And that only comes with good communication. I pledge more communication, whether it’s through the media or directly.”
Bob Spiers, who told the crowd in his opening statement that he’s Vernon’s “tax watchdog,” and that he is “gunning for (retiring councillor) Barry Beardsell’s seat,” vowed more co-operation, less confrontation, and less secrecy, referring to council in-camera meetings which he calls “dark side” meetings.“This council should not be talking on the dark side on matters of importance to the community,” said Spiers. “If I’m elected and discussing something at an in-camera meeting, I will vote to move it out of in-camera and put it out in the open. And you will hear about it.”
Shawn Lee believes it’s not appropriate for any council squabbles to be fought in the public eye.“I think representative democracy is just that,” said Lee. “If elected to council, I would be entrusted with some decision-making ability.“It’s my job to inform myself as much as possible before making a decision.”
Eric Kowalski is a fan of open meetings and public forums, such as Monday’s, as it gives him a chance to hear what’s on the public’s mind. “Just because I get a 300-name petition on something, it’s not necessarily going to make me change my mind,” said Kowalski, the only candidate who answered nearly every question asked during the two-and-a-half hour forum.“It would certainly make me pay attention and look at what people are saying.”
Brian Quiring described himself as a transparent person who doesn’t believe in behind-closed-door meetings at all. “I believe in clear communication,” said Quiring. “I make myself very available to everyone.”
Mary Jo O’Keefe said when you vote for someone, you’re giving them decision-making abilities. “It’s their responsibility to make sure they’re informed when making community decisions. Our community has really strong stakeholder groups that have lived the life, walked the walk. We have to find out what they think. We may not always agree, but it’s important to have all the facts on the table.”
Gordon Thomas chose not to answer the question. Thomas’s only response came on a question from the floor about how council plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and obtain a sustainable future. “This whole environmental thing, to be honest, I can’t accept the fact we’re all suffering from global warming,” said Thomas.
Incumbent Buffy Baumbrough said Vernon’s official community plan helps address the sustainable future issue. “Our community plan goes a long, long way in helping us reduce our carbon footprint with our land use plan, neighbourhood centres, connecting those through transit and bicycle routes...,” said Baumbrough. “We’re going to have to start being more collaborative and integrated in our thinking...”
Incumbent Patrick Nicol was the only candidate to respond to a question on why the city is bidding to host the B.C. Games. “There’s a lot of infrastructure that came to us as a result of hosting the Games in 1982 and 1993,” said Nicol. “The community, far and away, receives much more back than they put into them. “It’s about the community, and the resources we get out of it.”
Incumbent Jack Gilroy was grilled about council’s plan to borrow $30 million to construct a civic complex that would have housed a new library, art gallery and office space for either city hall staff or the RCMP. The plan was soundly defeated in a referendum. “The plan we had for the complex, I’d support it again tomorrow, it was good enough,” said Gilroy. “It was a good plan but it was a rushed plan. I admit that. “We tried to make a complex that worked for all citizens...”
Candidates Steve Debella and Peter Greening were not in attendance, though Debella’s daughter, Kim Daniel, read an opening statement from her father, who was unable to attend the forum.
