Coldstream’s civic election candidates now have a better idea of what the community’s voters are looking for.
Most of the 18 council hopefuls and two mayoral candidates now have two forums under their belt since attending the recent Coldstream Ratepayers Association forums – Monday at Lavington Elementary where approximately 75 people attended and Tuesday at Coldstream Elementary, which packed in an estimated 200 people. The next forums take place Nov. 3 at Okanagan College, and Nov. 5 at the Performing Arts Centre, both at 7 p.m.
Two of the candidates seeking a councillor’s seat are Perrin Hayes and Pat Cochrane.
British-born Hayes has lived in Canada for 40 years and moved to Coldstream one-and-a-half years ago.
The father and grandfather is retired from facilities management at Simon Fraser University, where he was responsible for administering multi-million dollar operations and maintenance budgets.
With his past experience and current interest in the community, Hayes believes he is a good candidate.
“If you’re going to be a councillor, you have to be involved,” said Hayes, who has regularly attended council meetings, is chairman of the Agricultural Advisory Committee, volunteers with Special Olympics, is the Canadian Alliance of British Pensioners Okanagan representative, Gyro International Vernon chapter vice president and a Shuswap Pioneer Collectors Club member.
Having strong water protection and conservation concerns, Hayes is also vice chairman of the Greater Vernon Water Stewardship Committee and a member of the Cross Connection Control Committee of the B.C. Water and Waste Association.
The 67-year-old believes there should be more incentive for conservative homeowners. He suggests: “The less you use, the less you pay in both water and sewer charges.”
Hayes is also concerned with the loss of commercial and industrial land and is an advocate of agricultural land preservation.
“Once it’s gone away from the farm into the buildings, that’s it. You lose it.”
Cochrane, owner of Vernon Lock and Safe, is coming home to continue his political career.
The 12-year Vernon councillor has paid Coldstream taxes for 18 years and raised two boys in the rural community with his wife of 26 years.
“It’s time to go home,” said Cochrane, who started out in Coldstream as an advisory planning board member.
The veteran politician is now a Social Planning Council board member, Downtown Vernon Association city representative and a Vernon Performing Arts Centre Society director.
“I just feel that my background, experience and knowledge would be a benefit to the residents of Coldstream.”
That experience includes Vernon’s smart growth policies, which Cochrane would like to see used in Coldstream to maintain its rural standards.
He would also like to see Coldstream remain a key player in Greater Vernon. His example is the need for Coldstream to partner with Vernon to take over the economic development function from the regional district.
“Especially with the closure of the glass plant, it’s critical that we remain involved with economic development,” said 54-year-old Cochrane.
Cochrane also looks forward to more of an evening political schedule in Coldstream, versus the day time Vernon schedule which conflicts with his business hours.
Cochrane and Hayes are running against the following Coldstream council candidates: Maria Besso, Greig Crockett, Doug Dirk, Allen Dubeski, Richard Enns, Bill Firman, John Hegler, Gyula Kiss, Mary Malerby, Clair Methot, Ruth Moore, Peter Peto, David Rossi, Dean Skoreyko, Lynn Spraggs and Becky Strube.
The race for mayor is between Jim Garlick and Glen Taylor.
Watch The Morning Star for more profiles of Coldstream’s candidates.
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