Why I’m Running 
coldstream election

One of the biggest reasons I’m running for Coldstream Council is actually pretty simple:

I ask why.

• Why do we do it this way?

• Does it still make sense?

• Is there a better way?

• What will it cost?

• Who will it affect?

• And MOST importantly, what are the people of Coldstream telling us?

 

Business Experience & A Problem-Solving Approach

I’ve spent most of my adult life in business. I started my first business at 18 and have gone on to build and operate three successful businesses over the years. That experience has shaped the way I think and the way I approach problems.

In business, you learn pretty quickly that decisions have consequences. You have to:

• Ask questions

• Understand the numbers

• Listen to people

• Solve problems

• Be accountable for the decisions you make

And when something isn’t working, you don’t keep doing it simply because that’s the way it’s always been done. You take another look, make adjustments and, when necessary, you pivot.

That’s the kind of thinking I want to bring to Council.

 

Accountability, Transparency & Listening to Residents

My decision to run really took shape after I became involved in a local issue and brought a delegation before Council. That experience taught me a lot, but it also showed me that there is room for much better transparency, communication and follow-up with residents.

When people take the time to get involved, do their homework, come before Council and speak up about something that matters to them, I believe their voices need to carry real weight in the discussion. Council members will always have their own opinions, but decisions shouldn’t simply come down to personal preferences around the table. They should be based on:

• The facts

• The bigger picture

• Most importantly, what is in the best interest of the community

Listening to residents has to mean more than simply giving them an opportunity to speak.

Being heard doesn’t mean always getting the answer you want. Council can’t say yes to everything, and sometimes there are very good reasons something can’t be done. But residents deserve an explanation. They deserve to know questions were asked, alternatives were considered and their concerns were genuinely part of the decision.

coldstream election

Bringing Fresh Perspective to Council

I also believe a healthy council needs a balance of experience and fresh perspectives. There is value in knowing how things have been done, but there is also value in having people around the table who are willing to ask whether there might be a better way.

I won’t pretend to have all the answers. But I’m not afraid to:

• Ask questions

• Challenge an idea respectfully

• Say, “I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out.”

I would rather take the time to understand an issue properly than make a decision simply because it’s the easiest or most familiar one.

I’m comfortable with difficult conversations, constructive disagreement and hearing perspectives that are different from my own. At the end of the day, the job is to work together and make the best decisions we can for Coldstream.

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Ready to Serve Coldstream

My girls are grown now, and I’m at a point in my life where I have the time, energy and experience to give back to a community.

If you stop me at the grocery store, call me, send me a message or want to sit down for a coffee because something in Coldstream matters to you, I’ll listen.

I may not always agree with you, and you may not always agree with me.

But you will always be heard. I can promise you that.