“We can do better.”

That’s the theme of local, soon to be retired, journalist Gerry Warner, who announced Oct. 17 he is seeking a seat on Cranbrook City Council.

Warner, 65, a news reporter and columnist at the Cranbrook Daily Townsman since 1997, says he hopes to put his journalistic skills to work for the people of Cranbrook as “an independent watchdog at City Hall.”

“As a reporter, you get to know the city you write about very deeply and I think the knowledge, insight and experience I’ve gained doing this will put me in a unique position to be an effective representative at the council table.”

Warner says he sees the main issues in the election to be accountability at city hall, improving the city’s infrastructure and Cranbrook’s future growth. Protecting the city’s unique features such as the Community Forest, Joseph Creek and Heritage Hill should also rank high on Council’s agenda as should beautification of the city and support for the arts, Warner says.

“Council is already projecting an eight per cent tax increase for the 2012 fiscal year. With an increase like that, it’s imperative the additional revenue be spent on what’s best for the city,” Warner says.

As an independent, Warner says he will listen to all points of view before voting on any issue. “I do not belong to a political party or any interest group that advocates politically to the city, which leaves me free to vote my conscience on what I feel is best for Cranbrook.”

As for growth and development, Warner says the logical place for the city to grow is within its existing boundaries where services are already in place and there’s lots of room to expand according to the city’s Growth Management Report. “This is not the time for sprawl outside our existing boundaries. We’ve already seen the unfortunate failure of two mega-developments on the city’s periphery. We don’t want to see another.”

Warner says he’s also concerned about the upcoming water meter referendum in the election. “Why is this being rushed through without a chance for citizen involvement? Why was Council’s Utilities Committee bypassed in the process? This is no way to do business at city hall and why I’m voting no in the referendum.”

Another area of concern is the city’s huge overhaul of its aging spray irrigation sewage system. “As an independent watchdog, I will examine this project very carefully  and report to taxpayers. I’ve been told the project’s original capital cost has almost doubled.  If this is true, Cranbrook residents deserve an explanation.”

Warner retires from the Townsman at the end of this year and will have lots of time to devote to city affairs. Married to wife Sandra for 26 years and with two children pursuing careers in medicine and teaching, Warner says now is the right time for public service.

“Cranbrook has been good to me and it’s time I gave something back.”

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