By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 13, 2008
Most of Vernon’s mayoralty candidates want to focus on expanded sports facilities, but they disagree on how to achieve that goal. During a final forum hosted by the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Vernon Association Wednesday, the candidates were asked how they would proceed with a multi-sport complex. “We have football teams travelling to Kelowna to play their games and we don’t have a full-sized track,” said Juliette Cunningham of what she sees as the need. Cunningham believes lands next to Kin Race Track and Wesbild Centre could be used for sports fields. “It’s a very viable location for that,” she said.
Tony Stamboulieh, though, wants to see any studies that actually show there is a need for more facilities. “We have a lot of school fields. Have they been looked at?” he said. “We really need to know who is involved (with the studies) and the reasons for doing it.”
Steve Campbell agrees there is a need for additional fields, but he’d like to focus on the city-owned Hesperia lands on Longacre Drive, which are proposed for residential housing. “That land could be terraced so we could put in sports facilities there,” he said.
Wayne Lippert, the current mayor, insists the public has provided input on recreational space through the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, and one of the major issues in acquiring land is the cost involved. “We are working on solutions through Greater Vernon,” he said. “We do have a plan. It’s just a matter of finding the land and the money.”
But because parks and recreation are a GVAC responsibility, Rick Thorburn says that creates unnecessary bureaucracy and one level of government would assist in projects proceeding. “We need to correct and speed that avenue up,” he said of consolidating jurisdictions.
The only heated moment during the forum came when Stamboulieh’s concerns about the bylaw enforcement unit were challenged by Jim Hill, a retired RCMP inspector and part of Lippert’s campaign team. “Some of the things people are saying, they are talking out of school,” said Hill, who wanted to know Stamboulieh’s background on policing. “I’m a taxpayer and I don’t have to be an expert in your job to know I don’t live in a police state,” responded Stamboulieh.
The candidates were also asked how they would create a team atmosphere with council. “You have to treat them all with respect. They would all need to be treated with equity so they get the information at the same time,” said Cunningham. Thorburn believes a strong direction for the city comes from the mayor showing leadership and working with the community. As mayor, Lippert says he has tried to develop relationships and to get council members involved. “You need to work on their strengths but also on their passions and interests. We have done that,” he said. Campbell is confident that members of council will work towards the best interests of the city.“We all have the ability to work as a team,” he said.
But for Stamboulieh, teamwork begins by directly involving the public. “I will call a town hall meeting every four months. The public will set the agenda and talk to us,” he said. How city hall interacts with residents is also a focus for Floyd Edwards. “I’d like to see them be more accountable and transparent and less red tape. The mayor should be a leader and bring council together for the betterment of the city,” he said. Other topics discussed were economic development, downtown revitalization and supporting business.
Polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Vernon Recreation Complex, Ellison Elementary and Vernon Secondary School.
Running for the six councillor seats are Buffy Baumbrough, Ray Carling, Steve Debella, Jack Gilroy, Peter Greening, Eric Kowalski, Shawn Lee, Doug MacAulay, Patrick Nicol, Mary-Jo O’Keefe, Brian Quiring, Bob Spiers and Gordon Thomas.
