By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 10, 2008
Jim Garlick was less than an hour short of being acclaimed mayor of Coldstream. At the 11th hour, Glen Taylor managed to squeeze in under the 4 p.m. deadline and submit his nomination papers for mayor. “I had taken both papers out but I was pretty confident I would be running for mayor,” said Taylor. Therefore since current mayor Gary Corner announced his resignation, the race for the top job has finally begun, between incumbent councillors Garlick and Taylor. For Taylor, a six-year veteran on Coldstream council, the decision to run came down to the voters. “I just felt that him (Garlick) and I sit at different ends of the spectrum and I feel the taxpayers deserve to have a choice,” said Taylor, a married father and recent grandfather. Consistency was also a factor.
“I think it’s important that we have some continuity in our representation,” said Taylor, who also believes in working regionally on all the elements. He points to projects like the Duteau Creek Water Treatment facility and re-alignment of Highway 6, which he has been working on and wants to see through to completion. Taylor is also keen to continue working on concerns about future water, by extending his service on the Okanagan Basin Water Board. There are also relationships that Taylor says need to be upheld and others that he is eager to mend. As a former Coldstream Fire Department member, “I’m familiar with the issues that are going on with the fire department so I want to work on that to bring us together again.” Having his own business, the 48-year-old says he has the time to commit to the position and demands of being mayor.
“I believe the position is one that deserves time and that’s something I have,” said the Gold Leaf Imprinters owner who is starting up his invention business in the spring, the Ironhorse Caddybag. “I think I’ve shown my dedication to the position.” Taylor, who has lived in Coldstream for 25 years, serves on the following committees: Regional Transportation Advisory, Coldstream’s Finance, Fire Halls Building and Public Works Facility Committees. He is surprised at how many candidates there are for the six seats on council – 18 – but adds that it is a healthy number.
The councillor seats are being sought by the following candidates: incumbents Bill Firman, Mary Malerby and Doug Dirk, along with Maria Besso, Perrin Hayes, John Hegler, Becky Strube, Peter Peto, Dean Skoreyko, Richard Enns, Gyula Kiss, Ruth Moore, Clair Methot, David Rossi, Allen Dubeski, Pat Cochrane, Lynn Spraggs and Greig Crockett.
