Running for council in Okanagan Centre.

Asked Biography/Why are you running?

I am running for re-election because I care deeply about Lake Country and want to continue using my experience and proven record to help build a community where families thrive, businesses succeed, infrastructure keeps pace with growth, and the qualities that make Lake Country special are preserved.

Asked Biography/Why are you running?

My friends and neighbours continually expressed concerns about the lack of accountability and communication from council for their decisions, for the ongoing budget increases or for their response to questions from the residents. I chose to run, to use my extensive business background to change this.

Asked How would you control municipal spending and keep commercial property taxes, business-licensing costs and other municipal fees affordable?

Growth should be focused in the areas already identified by the community and the Official Community Plan. By creating housing opportunities in our Town Centre and other appropriate locations, we can provide a customer base to support and attract local businesses, attract new services and amenities, and strengthen Lake Country's economy while preserving the rural character of our established neighbourhoods.

Asked Lake Country businesses often struggle to recruit and retain employees because of housing costs and availability. What actions would you support to increase attainable workforce housing?

Firstly, we need to work to relax the requirements for secondary suites and allowing more carriage houses to be accepted into the rental pool. Rooming houses could also be an option when companies run their own accommodations for staff.

Asked What is the most important topic that needs to be dealt with in Lake Country and how would you go about dealing with it?

The most important issue facing Lake Country is water. Water supports every aspect of our community, from clean safe drinking water for residents to sustaining agriculture, local businesses, and the beautiful Lakes that make Lake Country a special place to live.

Asked What is the most important topic that needs to be dealt with in Lake Country and how would you go about dealing with it?

We can fix the broken infrastructure with resident’s support and blessing, but we need to fix council first before they will give us that.

Asked How would you control municipal spending and keep commercial property taxes, business-licensing costs and other municipal fees affordable?

Keeping taxes affordable requires both responsible spending and long-term planning. That means continuing to pursue grants, prioritizing core infrastructure, and supporting growth in the right locations.

Asked How would you control municipal spending and keep commercial property taxes, business-licensing costs and other municipal fees affordable?

Previous councils have treated taxpayer money like it was a blank cheque. We need to control spending, perform a forensic deep-dive into costs and contracts before we look at increasing taxes and fees.

Asked How would you address traffic congestion, parking limitations and transportation challenges affecting employees, customers and commercial deliveries?

We need to continue investing in strategic road improvements, intersection upgrades on the highway, and connections between neighbourhoods and communities. Parking remains a need for business, especially in the Town Centre and around the Community Centre. We must consider how to create an affordable parkade so that folks can spend time at shops and services downtown.

Asked How would you address traffic congestion, parking limitations and transportation challenges affecting employees, customers and commercial deliveries?

Parking and delivery access restrictions should be reviewed and either enforced or relaxed to the benefit of the businesses. Other communities have implemented business only park and ride facilities where the employees of multiple businesses share a larger centralized parking lot.

Asked What are the three most important actions the District should take to support the growth and success of local businesses?

Build on the Economic Development & Tourism Strategy (2023-2027) by improving approval processes and supporting the development of commercial, retail, and light industrial spaces that create local jobs.

Asked What are the three most important actions the District should take to support the growth and success of local businesses?

Remove barriers to make it easy to do business in Lake Country. This would be removing red tape and speeding up licensing and approvals.

Asked What steps would you support to improve public safety, cleanliness and security in Lake Country’s commercial areas?

This means remaining committed to the Lake Country RCMP Strategic Plan (2024-2027), which identifies three key priorities: reinforcing road safety, reducing and preventing crime, and enhancing police-community relations. I am also committed to addressing the identified need for additional uniformed resources at the detachment to achieve the goal of 24/7 policing.

I will ensure the fire departments are properly staffed, equipped and funded.

Asked What is your plan to attract new businesses and investment while also supporting established locally owned businesses?

As a Council one of our roles is to make connections with the business community and bring the information back to staff to implement and hold ourselves and staff accountable to the needs of the Community.

Asked What is the most important topic that needs to be dealt with in Lake Country and how would you go about dealing with it?

I would bring back town halls to listen to the residents. I would share why decisions were made and explain the changes that need to be made.