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Corrigan seeks second term as Fernie’s mayor
Cindy Corrigan wants to continue to work to create a viable and vital City of Fernie.
The first-term mayor is seeking re-election on Nov. 19 and there is plenty she wants to accomplish in the next three years, should she defeat challenger Mary Giuliano, a current city councillor.
“As mayor I would like to continue to develop and enhance our policy documents to ensure council has good sound policy enabling them to make good, efficient decisions with consistency,” Corrigan told e-KNOW.
“I would continue to implement the Official Community Plan and its policies and begin the work of implementing the newly drafted Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. With the help of city staff and the community we will work to integrate sustainability – future proofing concepts – into all aspects of community life thereby ensuring a vital and viable future in Fernie,” she said.
Corrigan is a lifelong Fernie resident with family ties in the community stretching back to the late 1890s, as does her husband Kerry. Their son Jesse is fourth generation Fernie, though he is now married and lives in Cranbrook with his wife Amanda.
Corrigan rose to the mayor’s chair when Randal Macnair opted to run for council instead of re-election as mayor in 2008.
Serving her community seemed to be preordained for Corrigan.
“My love of local politics began at a young age when my mom was elected, as one of the first two women, on Fernie City Council in 1968. The past three years I have made it my job as the Mayor of Fernie to be as informed as I could be about the issues that are important to the citizens of Fernie and to make decisions based on that information. As difficult as that was on some issues I always had the best interest of Fernie in mind,” she said.
Along with serving her community as mayor, Corrigan was a city council between 1999 and 2005. In the three years she was away from city politics, Corrigan was elected as a director with East Kootenay Community Credit Union.
“The credit union has almost tripled its assets in the past five years,” she pointed out. “I am most proud of the involvement and funding that comes from all BC Credit Unions and their members for Success by 6, an early childhood development program.”
Volunteering in the community has also been a lifelong commitment for Corrigan, beginning as a young adult when she volunteered at the library. She has also helped with the Red Cross Medical Equipment Loans, the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and with her church, among other endeavours.
“I was part of the city council that was instrumental in the development of New Horizon Village. I was a member of the board and then staff with Fernie Family Housing Society and played an active part in the redevelopment of Tom Uphill Manor,” she added.
Corrigan feels her strengths as mayor lie in fairness and reason.
“I bring balance to city council as mayor,” she said. “I strive to be fair and reasonable in discussions, and ensure all voices are heard. I have been able to make decisions based on good sound policy. I make decisions based on a concern for the needs, well-being, and interests of all people.”
During her tenure as mayor, which has included three years serving as Fernie’s Regional District of East Kootenay board of directors’ representative, Corrigan cites the completion of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan as one of her highlights because of “the realization that all aspects of the community are intricately tied together. This document was built with input from a diverse group of community members, with emphasis on where they see Fernie in the next 20 years. We will encourage the business community to adopt this plan as well, to ensure that we are all walking down the same path, as a cohesive group with a similar vision.”
Corrigan listed six items to summarize her campaign platform: fair representation, balance, professionalism, ethical, responsible and humanist.
Utilizing those traits, she looks forward to giving her city three more years as head of the city council.
“I would like to see the continued development of Fernie into a viable and liveable community for all people. We must retain and develop commercial sources for our tax base, while attracting well-paying jobs to ensure the future viability of our community,” she said.
“We need to proactively balance between social and business needs. Affordable housing is a continuing critical issue in Fernie. My track record demonstrates my commitment to all aspects of community life from housing to jobs to small business and recreation. Neglecting any of these issues could erode the social infrastructure and liveability of Fernie as we know it,” she said.
In closing, Corrigan is urging all eligible voters to take advantage of their rights to participate in democracy.
“I would like to encourage everyone to take the time to find out what the issues are and to talk to the candidates and then, please, get out and vote on November 19th. This is your Fernie!” she stated.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW