I am 57 years old, and a lifelong Fruitvale resident with my wife of 37 years Kelly, four grown boys, and three grandchildren. I began my career as an automotive technician in the private sector for 12 years prior to starting a 27-year career with our local school district including nine years as a Leadhand technician and the past 18 years in various staff roles as maintenance supervisor, manager of buildings and grounds, manager of transportation, and finally as Director of Operations with overall responsibility for buildings and grounds, transportation, custodial, new construction, and the attendant 70-plus employees.
I have limited experience as a politician myself but I have a wealth of experience working with the board of school trustees, which has given me great insight on the impact political decisions have on the people within the system and the people the officials represent. I have also been able to build experience working as part of an elected team over the years as an executive member followed by president of the Beaver Valley Men’s Curling Club, Beaver Valley Minor Hockey, and the Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
I have recently retired and now have the time and energy to give a little back to the community that has been so good to my family.
I believe the incumbent mayor and council has done a great job, they have been very progressive and successful in obtaining grants for specific projects, and I think Fruitvale is in great shape this election with the mayor returning and two strong incumbent councillors running again.
There is an opportunity to re-elect two experienced councillors for continuity together with two new councillors who will bring a new perspective and new energy to council. I don't see any major issues within the village but I do see an issue from outside Fruitvale that could have a major impact on us, that is the proposed Trail boundary expansion which has the potential to impact all of us in the Beaver Valley. It will be very important for Fruitvale and Montrose to work closely in support of our RDKB Area A rep Ali Grieve to come to a reasonable resolution to this challenge.
The boundary issue is a symptom of our small communities not working together on matters of mutual interest. We have seven different political entities on the corridor from Rossland to Fruitvale including RDKB, Warfield, Trail, Montrose, and the school district, together our population would still only constitute a small city, working in isolation erodes our collective strength.
If elected I will commit to work as part of a team on Fruitvale council, as well as work to build positive relationships with the adjoining councils.