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Diana J. eyeing third term on council
Diana J. Scott is running for her third term as councillor for the City of Cranbrook.
Of all the candidates running, she is the only one with more than one term under her belt in Cranbrook.
“I think it is important to have that experience, that history. Sometimes new councils question the reasoning behind the decisions past councils have made. I can help with that, especially as some of our key long-time staff either have retired or will be retiring soon. When I was a new councillor, I found the experience and wisdom of the veteran councillors invaluable.”
Looking back at her election platforms from 2008 and 2011, they both focused on economic growth and the importance of being business friendly. “I have advocated on behalf of business the entire time I have been in office. I fought hard for businesses when the sign bylaw was under discussion. I understand the importance of signage to a business. I fought hard to convince council not to approve high DCCs (development cost charges) knowing businesses cannot handle a bunch of cost increases at once, especially the way the economy was the past few years. I also asked for further stakeholder discussions with regard to the building bylaw. There’s no sense putting so much time and effort into the sign and building bylaws if everyone is not going to be happy at the end of the day”.
Having a vibrant economy is the most important thing the city can pursue. Everything else follows. If we are business friendly, more businesses pop up. More people invest in our community. They pay taxes. We have more to spend on roads, infrastructure, police, and fire. We have more to spend on the nice things we want like parks, supporting the arts, and recreation. If we don’t become more business friendly, we aren’t going to spread the tax burden around. More people aren’t going to move here. Some are going to leave. And we’re not going to have enough for the things we really need to do, she relates.
Having said that, Scott is not a one-issue person. She believes in the four pillars of the Cranbrook Connected committee: economic, social, cultural, and environmental sustainability. The city has made progress on all those fronts.
“We need to pursue all those goals in order to make Cranbrook a great place to live and to attract families and businesses,” she said. However, she believes council needs to stay focused on council issues and not try to be everything to everyone and tackle issues outside our realm. “That’s why the relationship with community organizations is so important. Working with groups to attain goals that are relevant and important to the city but not our function per se is the way to go with many issues like health care and homelessness.”
Scott came to Cranbrook in 2000 to work as a news anchor / reporter at The Drive / B104 radio station. She worked her way up to News Director. She then took a job as Community Relations Director for the Mining Association of B.C. Currently, Scott is an independent contractor running two businesses: as a medical transcriptionist and voice actor. She also works at the hospital.
“I re-trained when the economy went in the tank in 2009. It was either make yourself a niche job or move. I love the community and decided to do what it took to stay. I’m glad I did. I love Cranbrook and I love being on council. I have six years under my belt as councillor for the City of Cranbrook and I am looking to make it 10 with your support. I ask for your vote November 15.”
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