City of Cranbrook voters have four people to choose from to be their next mayor.

And the four candidates were provided ample opportunity to show their stuff during a Nov. 8 forum at the Key City Theatre, sponsored by the Junior Chamber International Kootenay and moderated by College of the Rockies president and chief executive officer Nick Rubidge.

Running for mayor in the Nov. 19 election are: current city councillor Jim Wavrecan, past mayoral candidates Wayne Stetski and John York and businessman Pat O’Connell.

Each candidate was given one minute to make an opening statement and then they fielded one prepared question each, before the forum moved to the candidates taking questions from the floor.

Working alphabetically, O’Connell opened, informing the approximate 270 folks in attendance that he’s lived in Cranbrook for 21 years and operates three businesses in the city. To some he may be recognizable as the head referee for Rams and high school football.

“I’ve had the opportunity to hear many concerns that Cranbrook residents have,” he said.

As an avid outdoorsman, O’Connell said he “recognizes the monumental task of keeping it the way it is,” in terms of the environment but also wants the city to move forward economically.

“It’s time for a strong business leader to forge ahead and restore pride in our city,” he said.

Wayne Stetski, a former provincial government senior manager based in the region, has also lived in the city 21 years, enough time to determine what the city needs now and moving forward, he said.

Coming out of the 12 parts of his election platform, there are three key areas he will focus on, Stetski said: “A strong economy, a beautiful Cranbrook and an empowered community.

“I want to bring Cranbrook together using vision, leadership and heart.”

Coun. Jim Wavrecan opened by noting he found it “a bit surreal” to be in a mayoral debate on the Key City Theatre stage, as 21 years earlier, his first year on council, the first project he was involved with was the theatre.

“It’s a privilege and an honour to have served for 21 years. I’ve served under four mayors,” he said, outlining his experience.

The city council, as he sees it, is at a “T-intersection – two turn left where opportunity is limited or to turn right with me.”

Finally, John York began to outline the approach and attitude he’d bring if elected mayor.

“One simple promise: to restore trust with the office,” he said. “I have no patience with wasting taxpayers’ money,” he said, in-between trying to elaborate on a wood burning bylaw (“dry wood only”) before running out of time.

The four candidates then fielded four prepared questions, in one minute timelines, with each one getting to begin and the others allowed a shot at giving their two cents.

The questions ranged from if they support current levels of taxation to their visions of ‘proper growth a development strategy for Cranbrook, to if they supported increased investment in the aging infrastructure and how they would find finances to deal with, to what their plan would be to improve the cultural diversity of the city.

A further 10 questions from the floor were handled by the candidates. For the purpose of keeping this article as concise as possible, e-KNOW will focus on four of the questions from the floor, one to each candidate.

The first question, aimed at O’Connell, focused on if he believed business growth was necessary and what could be done to grow the economy.

“It’s crucial,” he declared without hesitation. “It’s one of the most important things we have to do.”

One way to make the city more investment-friendly would be to “make it easier for people to do small business,” find new companies to lure to the city and “to enhance what we have here. At the end of the day, if we don’t help our small business community grow” the city won’t experience the growth it needs, he said.

Stetski said the city needs “a new economy” and pointed at such options as enhanced international tourism, bio and solar energy, pushing College of the Rockies to more university level degree levels and attract more business “by working collaboratively with other East Kootenay communities.

“We have to grow in order to remain sustainable,” said Wavrecan, noting the city is already working in a partnership with the Ktunaxa Nation Council on a bio-energy project.

“I’d like business to grow by lowering taxes; I’d like business to grow by advertising more,” York said, adding he’d like to see more people creating their own businesses and there needs to be more information available to them to help them get there.

York fielded a question about the issue of an overpass over the CPR Tracks, if he saw it as a priority for the city.

“I don’t like the idea of an overpass,” he said, suggesting instead that it made more sense to him for the CPR to sink the tracks below the road. Ideally, he added, “I’d like to see the tracks moved westward.”

O’Connell, chuckling, said, “I don’t think the CPR is going move their tracks!”

A solution to traffic being halted by train traffic rolling through town is required, he said, noting “man hour losses” to businesses in the industrial park and concerns about fire services.

“It’s a huge cost – we all know it but we’ve got to start the process,” he said.

Stetski said a feasibility study would be a good start, and perhaps the only thing affordable at this time.

“Over or under,” he said, federal and provincial government grant money would be required. “What is the best way to join the two parts of Cranbrook together?” A study could determine that, he said.

Wavrecan said he’s been eyeballing the issue “for years” and a solution “came close last year” but there was a change of mind from the provincial government.

Nine overpasses were built in the Lower Mainland last year, as part of the province’s Asia Pacific Program, aimed at enhancing and speeding up train traffic to the coast.

“Cranbrook is one of those cities affected by train traffic,” he said.

“I have a few problems with trains going through this area,” York said, adding it is a crisis waiting to happen, suggesting the tracks are not well-maintained.

Wavrecan handled a question on water meters and what could happen if the Nov. 19 referendum on them fails.

He admitted that he brought the water meter referendum motion before council because meters were highlighted in the Cranbrook Connected report. That said, he noted he is opposed to them.

“They are a tool for two things – to measure water use and make you value water. I think community is wising up” towards water use and ongoing efforts with the city’s water leak detection program has already caused a 14% reduction in usage. A bar of 20% reduction by 2015 is almost attained, he said.

“We’re almost there. I know you citizens value your water more and more,” he said.

York said he, too, is against water meters, and stated he doesn’t believe there is a need to conserve water, suggesting abundant underground aquifers and plenty of water for everyone to use.

“I don’t think we should be conserving it,” he stated.

O’Connell declared, “No water meters – no $7 million loan,” he said, suggesting there is technology available to find leaks and fix them.

Stetski said he supports water conservation efforts and water meters “but not spending $7 million. We need to find and fix those leaks in our pipes.” He added that an “incentive program” might encourage more people to purchase their own water meters, thereby reducing the overall costs to the city.

Stetski was posed with a question if he believes he has thye experience to run the city.

He quickly answered, “Yes. Being a mayor is all about leadership, vision and heart,” he said, pointing out that one doesn’t have to serve time on city council to become mayor.

“It’s like a flight attendant thinking they should be pilot,” he said, noting that being mayor is a much different kettle of fish than being a councillor, and pointed at recent comments made by outgoing Mayor Scott Manjak that he didn’t know what he was in for, despite time on council before.

“I have significant experience working in a government environment. I believe in collaboration,” he said.

Wavrecan begged to differ, noting he has served under “four completely different mayors” and has learned from them all and from his 21 years’ of experience.

“I know how it works to get the system working. My experience is certainly not a detriment; 21 years is a long time to work in the city and I’d like to take the next step,” he said.

York said his newness to city affairs would his advantage because there is “a disadvantage” of being “indoctrinated into a system. Being fresh and not being part of the system is sometimes an advantage,” he said.

O’Connell likened the city to a ship, and a team must be built to sail it properly.

“I want to be the captain of this ship,” he said, adding that his extensive business and life experience make him ready for the job.

O’Connell led the way in the closing statements.

“Being mayor of Cranbrook is a very, very, very serious job. It requires someone with huge passion,” he said, pointing out that the mayor must be a leader and he is the “enthusiastic person to lead the city into the next decade. The city needs a forward moving mayor. The city has the wheels. We just need to put a new set of rubber on it – give me the keys for the next three years.”

Stetski revisited his campaign focus of vision, leadership and heart. “We need fresh energy and new ideas,” he said, adding citizens needs to be “listened to and a council that puts residents’ interests first.”

Wavrecan said Cranbrook is already on the right course but work needs to be done.

“This city must continue to be the place where opportunities continue to happen,” he said, adding there are some people who don’t feel welcome doing business in the city.

“The doors a little blurry to them right now. We can be the community we know we can become if we leave that door open,” he said.

And York repeated his desire to create an honest and open city government.

“As your mayor I would restore your trust in city government,” he said. “I like simple, practical solutions. I want to make this city a more fun place to be with a new community centre!”

Above photo: From left, Wayne Stetski, Jim Wavrecan, Pat O’Connell and John York

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

 

 

 

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