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Chamber president sees council as logical next step
Sean Campbell moved to Cranbrook to enjoy all that it has to offer and because it’s not a major city where the safety of his children seemed to be a constant worry.
The senior manager of business banking at HSBC moved to Cranbrook from Calgary at the end of 2002 and hasn’t looked back since.
He quickly became involved with the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce and rose through the executive ranks to become president almost two years ago.
Campbell feels he has learned a great deal about the city in that time, and would like to expand his role in the city, adding that he stepped aside from his chamber duties after announcing his intentions to run for council.
“I thought a larger role in the community is the next logical step. I want to do for everybody in Cranbrook what I’ve been trying to do for the business community, which is advocacy,” he said. “To get to where the city can go requires a business-minded and collaborative attitude.”
Campbell didn’t hesitate when he was asked what the most important issue the city is facing.
“Growth,” he said. “And there are lots of questions, whether we should grow, how we should grow, where we should grow. It’s a larger issue than a lot of people are talking about,” he said, noting he’d like to see the city re-visit parts of its official community plan (OCP) more frequently as the normal course of business.
“We should base our decisions on the wording and intent of the OCP. It was written to give council the discretion” to consider each issue and application individually, he said. “We have to consider the context of each proposal and we have to consider how regional changes and local initiatives like Cranbrook Connected make adjustments to the City’s OCP necessary.”
Recent discussions about development in the city, from Shadow Mountain to Wildstone to the East Hill boundary expansion/Summit West Developments, have created a rift that doesn’t need to be so large, Campbell said.
“There is a business case for growth,” he continued. “In the simplest terms, a larger population gives us a broader tax base and it should ease the tax burden on all of us.”
Another issue Campbell sees as a point of contention in this election is the water meter referendum.
“It’s one means to an end,” he said, “for improving the way we think about our water use.”
He noted that he is not in favour of the wording of the referendum because there are no options available beyond ‘yes’ or ‘no’ “but I do think the city needs to go to a metering system.”
It’s about more than conservation, it’s a matter of fairness, Campbell said, explaining that while he has children at home, he has neighbours who are empty-nesters. “There is more water used in my house. So I should be paying more than my neighbours.
Campbell said he has concerns about the approach the city is taking for water meters, pointing at the $7.8 million potential borrowing over a 15-year period.
“The math doesn’t work,” he said. “I’m going to pay about $2,500 for a $650 water meter. Given the choice I’d pay $650 now. That is a debate that needs to happen.”
However, Campbell said he sees water meters as an inevitability.
“We have to go that way but we have to provide everybody with some choice as to how we go that way,” he said.
Another key issue facing Cranbrook is its downtown core, Campbell said.
Renovations are needed to revitalize it, he said.
“There are parts of the city, including downtown that need a ‘from the ground up,’ full body restoration and the city has a partnership role to play in that,” he said.
“What doesn’t make sense is putting new siding on a building that doesn’t meet the codes,” he said, “We need to work with property owners to help them make real, structural improvements that add value for them; as well as bring buildings up to current safety code requirements.”
Revitalization also needs to expand beyond the downtown, he continued.
“I think the city is poised to take advantage of the economic recovery when it happens. We have existing residential developments that are ready for new residents; we have Integra Air, the Regional Hospital, College of the Rockies, a WHL championship team – all in one community. We’ve got so much to attract people of all ages. By inviting them to come live in a paradise setting, we can add to the fabric and diversity of our community” he said.
“There are people in the town whose focus is seems to be just to protect what we have. But it that is your sole focus it’s hard to look at it (the city) as a gift we can be sharing,” he said.
Campbell admits he is new to the campaigning game but points to recent leadership roles and extensive business experience as evidence of his ability to fill a seat at Council.
He concluded that he is impressed with the number of people willing to step forward and take a shot at winning a council seat, noting it is another example of the spirit on display in Cranbrook.
“I hope the number of people running is a reflection of the number of people who would vote,” he said, adding he hopes even there is an increase in “non-traditional voters coming out to vote, noting the younger members of Cranbrook’s voting society.
“It’s one of the few opportunities to have a choice, to find someone (running for council) whose belief systems reflect your own,” he said.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
