It’s a mayoral campaign that has grabbed province-wide attention because a current mayor is being challenged by a council-member.

That in itself is not exactly news-worthy, because it is in no way unusual. But what makes the battle interesting is the fact that both Mayor Cindy Corrigan and Coun. Mary Giuliano are long-time Fernie residents and extremely well-established in their community.

The two Fernie icons were on display during the Nov. 2 all-candidates’ forum at the Fernie Community Hall, appearing before about 250 interested voters.

Also on the card were the 10 candidates running for the six council seats and two candidates vying for the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Electoral Area seat (please see separate stories on them).

The following are the opening and closing statements made by the mayoral candidates, with Corrigan’s opening statement leading off.

“Considering we just came throuogh the worst economic downturn seen by many, this council, under my leadership, has done some pretty amazing things,” she began noting that 52 new home permits and 164 renovations and additions have taken place.

“We built a reservoir and piping for a new water system; built a large portion of 9th Avenue; a retrofit at the Aquatic Centre saving the community $76,000 annually; In 2011 took a budgeted four per cent increase and reduced it to three while maintaining all current service levels; hosted two movies with all the economic spin offs; and many more – at least 55 projects and all this happens because of leadership,” she said.

“Leadership is more than words. Leadership is about action. A mayor’s role is to ensure council has the information they need to make decisions with current and relevant material. The mayor needs to make decisions based on planning documents, bylaws and policies with input from the public and needs to be able to defend the decisions of council – at the local, provincial and federal level.

“The mayor needs to make tough decisions when dealing with citizens on policy issues, letting them know what the policy says, not what they want to hear, thereby ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all.

“The mayor needs to ensure city staff is empowered to implement the plans approved and adopted by council, ensuring compliance with the legislation and regulations- LGA, CC and bylaws.

“Councils, past and present have used the input from the community to build these planning documents and now we use them to develop and enhance the type of community we all want, a community built in a balanced and thoughtful manner, a sustainable community working towards an excellent quality of Life for everyone,” Corrigan stated.

“I am confident that the decisions I have made were based on all these well thought out and planned ‘future looking’ documents. And I look forward to the continuity as mayor for another three years to complete the many plans and projects that we started during this term that need to be finished,” she concluded.

Giuliano followed, beginning by stating that she believes in human dignity, truth and fairness.

“To me it doesn’t matter if a person is a miner, a professional, an environmentalist, a developer, a labour or a politician. My belief doesn’t make me weak, it makes me strong. I am a doer; I like to make things happen,” she said, before noting some of her accomplishments in the community, many which helped her capture Fernie’s Citizen of the Year Oct. 27.

“I worked to make a dialysis unit a reality in the Elk Valley so our citizens didn’t have to travel far away. I initiated a march across Highway No. 3 stopping traffic to bring national coverage to threatened loss of the operating room. When a company wanted direct hookup to our water I initiated a 1,200 name petition in opposition. Our mayor was on the council that said “yes,” yet today staff says our Fairy Creek water source is in jeopardy.

“When parents wanted a childcare facility I supported that, as I did the Dirt Bike Jump Park and the Fernie Kids Club. Heiko Socher and a group of investors brought a proposal to bring a gondola from Fernie to the area above Ridgemont. They quoted this to be worth over $225 million dollars. Our mayor said “no.”  I said let’s look and study this before saying a flat no.

“We must analyze regulations and find ways to simplify them so staff can help citizens achieve what they need personally or in business.

“We need to welcome new investment that doesn’t compromise our environment or our requirements. We need to understand the needs of citizens who use the outdoors wisely and with care, monitor industry to  use good practices and appreciate that human life is just as important as our wilderness.

“I believe in listening to every opinion, every perspective.  I’ll return calls and emails; I’ll respect your point of view and I will never dismiss your concerns or suggestions. But I am not afraid to disagree or to admit when I am wrong.

“A vote for me is a vote for a fair and progressive leadership for everyone in Fernie,” Giuliano concluded.

The candidates then settled in to field a number of previously provided questions, beginning with what leadership skills they will bring to ensure city staff are working for the city and council.

Corrigan said she has built a relationship with Fernie chief administrative officer Allan Chabot and has the skills to continue down that path.

Giuliano replied, “I’d make sure we had regular performance reviews,” while noting Chabot has had just one review in seven years.

The mayors then handled a question about what they would do to attract and retain small business.

“There are many ways we could attract business,” Giuliano said, beginning with “don’t say no immediately. Look at the pros and cons.”

Corrigan pointed out the organization Invest Kootenay as one “opportunity” the city could take to help bolster its economic picture.

“We need to work hand-in-hand with the chamber because the chamber has its finger on the pulse of the community.”

The third question handled by the candidates was what their views are of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP).

Corrigan said she supports the initiative “whole-heartedly. “Six of us (on council) believe in the future proofing of this community,” she said, adding the ICSP covers “all aspects” of the city and is “a vision document” that can be integrated into individual plans.

Giuliano pointed out that she was the lone voice on council opposed to the process.

“I was a little bit offended that council members weren’t able to participate in this study,” she said, noting there were only two public meetings.

“That wasn’t public consultation in my books,” she said, adding that Corrigan and CAO Chabot were the only two official city representatives on the ICSP.

“It is going to be the over-arching document” in the city, she warned.

The candidates then handled a question on what steps they would take to address late night vandalism in the downtown.

Corrigan began by pointing out that the city struck a task force 1.5 years ago to look into the problem.

“It’s really difficult to get legislation in place to deal with those sorts of things,” she admitted.

An upcoming ‘stakeholder’ meeting may shed more light on the issue, she continued, “if not legally, morally and ethically.”

Giuliano also noted the task force had been struck but the issue remains.

“What is really needed is more police but that’s not what we’re going to get,” she said, pausing before suggesting security patrols may help curb vandalism.

“You need people out on the streets to watch what is going on” and if the police cannot handle the situation, the city may have to consider “hiring somebody ourselves,” she said.

Both candidates said they favoured increased investment in tourism.

“Yes, I’m in favour of it,” Giuliano said, adding she favours the Heaven’s Gate gondola proposal.

“I think as tourism becomes our second economy” its importance grows, Corrigan said.

The candidates then laid out what they thought are the top three priorities for infrastructure renewal in Fernie.

Corrigan said the top priority is the completion of the secondary water system – the James White well reservoir. The second priority is the completion of 9th Avenue and continuing to build a road reserve program and the third priority would be the development of “sidewalk strategy.”

Giuliano began by noting “the potholes all over town” need to be considered. She noted that a sidewalk plan had been completed five years ago but a scale-back on its contents was suggested, looking at sidewalks on only one side of a street. “I’d like sidewalks on both sides of the street.”

Her third priority was keeping water meters out of the picture as a means to conserve water in the city. The first thing the city needs to do, in order to better use its water, is to repair its aging infrastructure, she said, noting that “75% of our water” that is used or lost is from leaks in the system.

Finally, the candidates addressed what they saw as the key differences between the roles of mayor and council.

“I think I have clearly delineated the role of mayor and council,” Corrigan said, adding she believes she works well with her council. “I’ve allowed enough discussion. Council is there to bring its views forward and “to think of the big picture. I gave them plenty of opportunity to have discussions and they always know where I am coming from.”

Giuliano began by pointing out that she’s only been a councillor but believes a mayor “has way more information” on staff and on agenda items for meetings.

“As a councillor you don’t have the same clout with staff,” which is a reason she is running for mayor, she said.

“There are many issues that are not being addressed” by council, she said.

Following the debate, candidates had a minute to make a closing statement. The following are Corrigan’s and Giuliano’s closing statements.

“I would like to finish by saying  council and the city need continuity and I can be that person because of my experience as your mayor for the last three years,” Corrigan said.

“I will build on that leadership strength by enhancing and honing my skills which will allow us to move Fernie forward, in an orderly, respectful way. I have actively listened to the community and your concerns and taken the information and made decisions that were in the best interest of Fernie. I have and will continue to work hard to ensure fair and equitable representation of all.

“People have come to Fernie over many, many years because of what we have, what Fernie is, and this has been protected and enhanced by the plans we have in place. I am for development, balanced – controlled – directed in a healthy sustainable way. There is more, much more to a healthy community than development. The social and cultural programs, we need to recognize the environmental and conservational issues, and things for people to do in their leisure time, as well as the ability to earn a living wage enabling them to stay here, call it business expansion and retention. We are tasked with all of this to ensure a well thought out and balanced community.”

Corrigan noted it is not an easy slog being an elected official.

“I attend 15 to 20 meetings per month dealing with all the other issues that arise in the community – child care, train whistles, hospital ORs, RCMP, downtown late night issues and much more. I am the municipal director with the RDEK and have attended over 80 days of meetings there, representing the city on issues that affect us, spending many hours doing what I call homework and travelling in excess of 15,000 kms doing it.

“I love this job, it is my passion. The sustainability of this community is so important to me; this community has sustained my family for the last 100 years and I would love to be part of ensuring its sustainability for the next 100 years – though perhaps not for all of them.

“I look forward to another three years with a team that will continue to move Fernie forward in a balanced way,” Corrigan concluded.

Giuliano began her closing by stating, “I am about community development, making Fernie a place where people want to come, live and raise families. This means citizens that have their needs met, like jobs, a nice home, savings, recreation opportunities, excellent health care, decent roads and clean water.

“It means keeping our library and museum open every day, our Arts Station active, our Aquatic Centre and arena open while providing services like windrow clearing, snow removal, curb collection and recycling.

“For over 100 years Fernie has kept its character of a small town but in recent years the character of our town has begun to change. We are no longer just about mining and forestry. We have become more sophisticated and more knowledgeable due to advanced technology and the types of people who now call Fernie home. This change has enriched our town by its diversity. Change brings fear that Fernie will lose its character, that it will become overdeveloped, that we will lose the incredible wilderness that surrounds us but those that use that wilderness understand the value of keeping it for future generations.

“Fernie will always be a real community despite change,” Giuliano continued.

“We can continue to nourish this town by holding regular meetings where citizens can choose topics for open dialogue with council.

“Recently I voted against the Forever Fernie document because I felt that two public meetings wasn’t a true consultation with the public. I am targeted as being about building development; this is only to discredit me because I refuse to be a one issue candidate.

“I am told that I am too nice, but being nice helps me get things done for my community. Every decision I made has been fair representation for all because I am not supported by any special interest groups. And this is a record I am proud to continue if elected.”

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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