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Cranbrook council candidate wants more youth involved
A Cranbrook man is throwing his hat into the ring for a city council spot in the upcoming November municipal elections because he wants to create a connection between younger voters and city hall.
Tasy Strouzas, 30, says it is time to try and halt the apathetic slide of voters under the age of 30.
“I’ve met a lot of people who don’t vote… but they complain,” he said, adding he believes he can be a “conduit” who will help connect currently unengaged taxpayers to ongoing council business.
“A lot of younger people aren’t going to city council saying ‘this needs to be done.’ There is still a lot of room for improvement in communications,” Strouzas said.
“They need someone fresh in there, with new ideas,” said the father of two girls aged four and seven.
To gauge what it is Cranbrook voters want and need from their government, Strouzas is taking the detailed route.
Many people seriously interested in joining the ranks of the locally elected begin attending council meetings and dive headlong into learning about pertinent and potential issues. They also become more heavily involved in their community, including volunteering time.
Strouzas said he hasn’t attending meetings, yet.
Instead, the Bedroom Furniture salesperson intends to talk to “as many people as I can” to get the best sense of exactly what voters want.
And he’s already involved in the volunteer world, serving on the board of directors with The Cranbrook Jumpstart/Kidsport program.
“I’m sure it’s a big learning curve but that’s okay, I’m up for it,” he said, noting he keeps abreast of issues, and is aware of challenges faced by city council and administration.
“I know it is a big-time commitment and I am really for that. I intend to my research,” he said, adding he intends to be fiscally responsible to ensure taxpayers get the best bang for their buck. “But there are creative ways of getting around things,” he said, adding he’s met with current city councillors and other elected officials and intends to start attending council proceedings leading up to the election.
Continuing with his focus on improving communications between the city and residents, Strouzas said complainers can be turned into supporters and more engaged citizens if they really knew that their elected officials were doing all they could for them, especially voters below the age of 30.
“They complain about the roads being so bad but they don’t really understand… Cranbrook is on a really tight budget,” he said, adding he believes the city is lacking in civic pride.
“I think if they (younger voters) knew a little more they’d have more pride,” he said. And there is much to be proud of in Cranbrook, Strouzas said, explaining he enjoys geo-caching.
Born in Creston, Strouzas has been in Cranbrook since he was 12, and his hobby takes him places and shows him aspects of the city “I have never seen before. There is a lot to be proud of here.”
Reaching out to youth with positive messages and helping them become active citizens, such as the work done by Jumpstart/Kidsport, which provides funds for kids who want to play sports, is another route Strouzas would like the city to take.
“There are a lot of kids who are slipping through the cracks. There has to be something they can do,” he said. “And there is so much we can do.”
For instance, council members should spend more time with local schools, he suggested.
“If they are not raised to be involved, they won’t be involved,” he said of school kids.
“You need to find what gets them going. The people who say they don’t care – they do – you just have to find what gets them going.”
Strouzas’ personal philosophy resonates in his cheerful face.
“I want the community to get together – to work together,” he said, adding he sees the city having a special day where residents help out, city-wide, “painting a fence or whatever – just everyone helping out.”
Cranbrook could also be greener than it currently is, he continued, suggesting curbside recycling as something to be established.
“The trick is to get something like that in place without raising taxes,” he said, pointing out research on what other like-sized cities are doing could result in ideas that could be applied to Cranbrook.
“It’s important that we are not left behind,” he said. “It’s nice to see small towns keeping ahead of the curve.”
Meanwhile, Strouzas has more than two months before the Nov. 19 election to inform voters about his intentions and to soak up what they have to say.
He’s started a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vote-Tasy-Strouzas-For-Cranbrook-City-Council/230205223684584 that has already got more than 100 likes.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
