Candidates vying for a council seat -- By Jennifer Smith

There’s now less than two weeks for voters to decide who to put an X beside on Nov. 15. And in Coldstream, there’s only two more chances to hear from them.

The last Coldstream Ratepayers Association forum gets underway Monday at Okanagan College in the lecture theatre from 7 to 9:45 p.m. Then the final forum is being hosted by the Performing Arts Centre Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Two of the 18 candidates seeking one of the six councillor seats are Lynn Spraggs and Greig Crockett.

Spraggs is concerned about the future of Coldstream, that’s why he is running in the civic election.

“Kal Lake is under siege and we must protect it,” said Spraggs, who with a background in problem solving and engineering believes he can be of assistance in examining the use of the lake, water quality planning and sewer plans.

Water supply is also a key issue for the 66-year-old father of four and grandfather of seven.

“There are currently residents in Coldstream who have been paying for clean water for more than 20 years and they have yet to receive it. This is truly intolerable.”

Spraggs is in favour of making parks and recreation Coldstream-controlled, versus the current Greater Vernon Advisory Committee control.

And he says taxation can also be controlled.

“We need to do more with less and we can do it by trimming waste.”

Spraggs is a research scientist, professor of environmental engineering, small business owner and a long-time volunteer coach. He grew up in Armstrong, left the valley to get an education and has worked in California, B.C., Saskatchewan and Quebec.

Crockett believes he stands out from the 17 other candidates because of his focus on the future. Unlike much of the current debate around administrative errors and ideological differences, Crockett feels he has grasped the larger obligation of council – the future.

Part of that concern for the future includes protecting it through sustainable green building standards that direct “buildings be sited, wired, plumbed and constructed to minimize future operating costs and wasteful consumption,” said Crockett.

Current threats can be turned into opportunities, said Crockett, through green features such as solar harvesting, geothermal heat and conservation methods.

Crockett also points out that 133 municipalities have signed the B.C. Climate Action Charter to become carbon neutral by 2012. But not Coldstream.

“We are far behind,” said Crockett.

Some of the other issues on Crockett’s radar are: a neighbourhood based approach to the Official Community Plan review, expansion of Kal Lagoon Park, farmland protection, a Lavington economic development committee, citizen advisory and stewardship committee, full review of the fire chief situation and meaningful regional co-operation.

Spraggs and Crockett are running against the following candidates for councillor positions: Maria Besso, Pat Cochrane, Doug Dirk, Allen Dubeski, Richard Enns, Bill Firman, Perrin Hayes, John Hegler, Gyula Kiss, Mary Malerby, Clair Methot, Ruth Moore, Peter Peto, David Rossi, Dean Skoreyko and Becky Strube.

Jim Garlick and Glen Taylor are vying for mayor.

Watch The Morning Star for more candidate profiles.

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