In a twist compared to the standard municipal election candidates’ forum, the City of Kimberley’s two mayoral candidates interviewed for the job Nov. 9 at the McKim Theatre.

Incumbent Jim Ogilvie and challenger Ron McRae made opening statements, which is the norm, before being interviewed by internationally renowned television host Paula Gordon (http://www.paulagordon.com/bios/paula.html), who splits her home time between Atlanta, Georgia and Kimberley.

Gordon had each candidate for eight minutes each and worked at exposing their essential humanity, creating an entirely different mood to the evening’s purpose, which is to help voters decide who they will mark an X next to on Nov. 19.

Ogilvie was the first to make an opening statement and he focused on making sure the 150 or so folks in the theatre were aware of what has been accomplished under his leadership in the past couple of years, including 54 separate infrastructure projects.

“We’ve completed many projects and our city looks good from a financial point of view,” he said. “And it’s not that long ago that Kimberley didn’t look that good,” he said, noting land, air and water pollution as some of its problems.

“With the help of hundreds of volunteers” the town was brought back up to speed, he said. “Many things have happened because we have listened to our citizens. When the mine closed and the city lost 55% of its tax base, our city did not plummet. It’s a remarkable story.”

Kimberley has become a city that is attracting young families, evidenced by the increasing volume of baby carriages at public gatherings and along city sidewalks, Ogilvie said.

While the city is weathering the current economic wobbles around the world, it must remain alert to what is happening and adjust accordingly, Ogilvie said, which is why the city needs an experienced leader with sound financial sense who is aware of all that is happening in the city and region.

Ogilvie then launched what amounted to the only salvo fired on the evening, criticizing McRae, the only other person to have held the office of Mayor of Kimberley other than Ogilvie since 1972 (from 2002-2005),for not showing more civic mindedness.

“He never came to any public meetings, at all” nor to any city council meetings in the past six years, he said. “Most recently he didn’t show up to the Integrated Sustainable Planning Committee meetings. Ron has seldom or ever shown up at community events.”

Ogilvie outlined an extensive list of environmental initiatives the city has undertaken and pointed out plans for the future, including the Sun Mine, the Mark Creek flume renovation and the establishment of three new soccer fields in conjunction with the Soccer Association.

“All in all we have a clean, safe and friendly city – a good place to live and play,” he concluded.

McRae said Kimberley has three key elements to its social fabric: diversity, inclusiveness and responsibility. It’s a city that balances the environment and economy equally.

With that in mind, he’s the best person to lead the city moving forward, he said.

“We can reach our full potential,” he said, noting that’s his mission if elected.

“Kimberley is not only the place I call home, but it’s the core of who I am,” he said.

McRae said he has another reason to make Kimberley the best place to be – his grandchildren, who he loves watching grow up in the city, which continues to evolve.

“Gone are the days of isolated economies,” he said, suggesting Kimberley is part of the global economy and “we must continue to position ourselves to seize” upon opportunities.

McRae said his experience as a city councillor (1999-2002) and as mayor taught him a great deal. In addition, he spent six years as a school board trustee and served as Kimberley’s representative at the Regional District of East Kootenay board while he was mayor.

“As a successful leader I have a recognized ability to listen and communicate,” he said, adding can “mine the minds of our electorate. I am open to, and appreciative of, a person’s ideas and concerns.”

The city needs a council that embraces diversity and ingenuity, McRae said. “Now is the time for this community to focus our energies. We must look into all possibilities” to grow Kimberley’s economy.

McRae also outlined how as mayor he would improve communications with Kimberley residents.

“I will ensure clear communication flows,” he said, noting that with the changing times, clear communication is more important than ever before.

“We live in a different world. We must be poised” to seize opportunities in order to succeed in the “climate of change that is necessary for Kimberley to evolve as a vibrant and successful community.”

At that point Gordon took centre stage at an ornate table with each of the candidates and interviewed them for eight minutes apiece.

In order to get the full gist of her work, please keep a look out on the Kimberley Chamber of Commerce website as the evening was filmed and will soon be streamed at http://www.kimberleychamber.com/.

“How do you get to know somebody in eight minutes? Well, you make a start,” Gordon said.

After Gordon’s interviews the candidates returned together to the stage to field a dozen questions.

The first asked the candidates to outline what they see as being the three concrete priorities they’ll face when taking office.

They both replied that their first priority would be to meet with the new council and hash out the top issues moving forward.

However, McRae expanded his answer to including an environment at city hall where all city employees feel more engaged with the operations of the city. He would also conduct a comprehensive review of the city’s fiscal framework.

They fielded questions on the Lions Club’s Church Avenue project, what they would do to get tourism operators to work together and what they would do to get more young people engaged in city initiatives.

Getting younger people involved is difficult, Ogilvie said, noting they have young families and are working hard.

“As a result we’re not finding many young people showing up with our initiatives,” he said, adding he never stops trying to get younger folks engaged.”I think it’s important that young people have a say,” he said, adding his door is always open for anyone wanting a discussion or to be heard.

“Engaging young people can a very challenging process,” said McRae, an educator.

“Speaking to them is absolutely critical,” he said, suggesting that forum could be held to gather younger points of view.

“When you talk to young people, very often they will be very forthcoming if they feel you are listening to them. It’s all about acknowledgement and listening,” he said.

Another question fielded focused on how the candidates would implement digital literacy moving forward.

McRae raised an eyebrow. “Interesting topic,” he smiled, admitting he never thought he’d have a Facebook account but campaigning for mayor took him there.

“You have to adopt the communication avenue that is being embraced. It’s absolutely critical” to the future of communication, he said, adding there is a steady shift “away from a paper-based literacy to a digital literacy base.”

Ogilvie agreed that digital literacy is essential. “We have to take advantage of that any way we can,” he said, adding the city is going to have to create a Facebook page.

“No doubt about it, digital literacy will be more important as we move forward.”

Another question for the candidates focused on how they would go about replacing the city’s “aging infrastructure.”

Ogilvie opened by taking umbrage to the term ‘aging infrastructure,’ noting that much of the city’s infrastructure is in tip top condition.

“I don’t know where people get this idea we have an aging infrastructure. In the last two years there have been 54 infrastructure projects” and lots of replacements have occurred in recent years.

He admitted that the Mark Creek flume is the top priority for city attention but compared to other cities, such as Cranbrook with its road issues, Kimberley’s infrastructure picture is “heads and shoulders above” most other regional municipalities.

“As long as I am mayor we’ll continue to work very hard on infrastructure,” he said.

McRae said his campaigning work, speaking with residents, has resulted in some “revealing” conversations.

“Some think we do have a crumbling infrastructure,” he said before noting there has been “huge investment in infrastructure” by the city as its continued to take advantage of grant programs.

However, he warned that with mounting troubles with the global economy, traditional pots of money may not be available in the future, “thus the need to have very, very careful planning exercises and priorities outlined – what needs to be done first and next after that.”

The candidates then handled questions on what they would do differently as mayor if elected, what they would do to attract business and create jobs, what they would do to improve local transportation and to explain their positions on the Sun Mine proposal.

Speaking first, McRae said he supports the concept.

“I have to applaud the city for taking the initiative with its partners,” he said, adding, “it could act as a stepping stone for Kimberley as the green economy continues to emerge.”

That said, McRae wants “to be assured” the business model for the Sun Mine will work.

“I feel more confident now than I did two or three weeks ago,” that the business model will work, he said, crediting Ogilvie and city staff for better explaining the proposal.

Smiling, Ogilvie said he naturally supports the proposal. “After all, I’ve been working on the project for three years. This is a sound project from a business point of view.”

However, there will be no commitment made to proceed “until it is undeniably proven to be good for the city in all ways,” he said, adding he believes it “has some real value to our community” as Kimberley would be home to the first solar power project in B.C. and would benefit from increased media exposure.

The candidates explained their views on the proposed provincial municipal auditor general and both noted they don’t support the idea, citing duplication of efforts and the city’s fiscal responsibility and transparency.

The final question of the evening asked the candidates what they see as Kimberley’s greatest opportunities and challenges moving forward.

Ogilvie said the city’s best opportunity is to hang its enviable lifestyle on a shingle.

“That is our greatest card to play. We do need to attract more folks,” he said, noting not to become a Whistler or Banff, but to aim for 10,000 residents which make the city and its businesses sustainable.

The city’s biggest challenge is also finding ways to bring new people to town. “We have to stick to our economic plan because that is the blueprint,” he said.

McRae said the city’s greatest opportunity is its people.

“We are all our biggest resource when it comes to the future of our city,” he said. “We need to honour the resources we have in our city.”

And its challenge is change, McRae said.

“It’s all around us and is not unique to Kimberley. It creates real difficulties for some of us, myself included, but it’s happening and a fact,” he said.

McRae led off with closing remarks and concluded by noting, “It is time for us to take strategic and structured approaches to the challenges we see.”

Ogilvie concluded by stating, “Let’s keep Kimberley in the forefront when we compare Kimberley to other communities. I wish to continue as your mayor and welcome the chance to work with the new council.”

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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