IN THE RUNNING | Incumbent Vernon councillors announce plans to retain their seats [A5]
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Wednesday, September 24, 2014 P R O U D L Y
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Morrow enters race
HAPPY CAMPERS
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Brandon Keir and Alea Wilson, of Rock Hard Excavating, volunteer their services for landscaping at the Extreme Makeover Easter Seals Camp Saturday in Lake Country. See page A3 for the story on this amazing transformation performed by hundreds of volunteers. A video of their efforts can be found at www.vernonmorningstar.com.
Amalgamation study plan quashed RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Vernon residents will not get a say on whether amalgamation should proceed with the neighbours. On Monday, a majority of council rescinded a January motion in principle to ask Vernon voters if the city should pursue the creation of a committee to study the implications of restructuring Greater Vernon governance. “We’d be asking our citizens to fund a study of a marriage where only one person is approaching the altar,” said
Mayor Rob Sawatzky of the Councillors Bob Spiers opposition from Coldstream and Mary-Jo O’Keefe pushed and Areas B and C to a study. for the question to be put Sawatzky also before Vernon votsuggested that a ers. city referendum in “I’d like to get a November could sense of what citidisrupt the positive zens think,” said relationship with O’Keefe, adding the other jurisdicthat the efforts of tions and the prothe Greater Vernon vincial government Governance Society Rob Sawatzky won’t fund a study if should be acknowlonly one participant edged. is involved. The society col“They are clearly not will- lected 3,160 names on a petiing so it doesn’t make sense tion calling for a governance to move forward.” study.
BANNISTER HONDA “A Family Business, with Family Values ”
Spiers insists that seeking the views of residents in November would provide direction to the next city council on amalgamation. “I’m not saying amalgamation is the way to go, let’s just do a study,” he said. However, Coun. Juliette Cunningham believes putting the issue before city residents this fall would create false expectations that amalgamation will occur. “If council in the future gets a dancing partner (another jurisdiction), they can pursue it then,” she said.
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Jamie Morrow says he’s ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work to enhance Vernon. Morrow, a 54-year-old recruiter for Okanagan College’s School of Business, has announced he will run for Vernon mayor Nov. 15. “With municipal politics, you can make a difference,” said Morrow, who served a term on Sparwood council in the 1990s and moved back to Vernon in 2000 after growing up here. “I thought about running during the last two terms, and this time with what’s going on, I thought I’d throw my hat in for mayor.” A primary issue for Morrow Jamie Morrow is economic development and ensuring businesses and residents have the opportunity to reach their full potential. “I believe in our town and I have seen this town grow, and then stagnate and then grow,” he said. “I’d like to see Vernon grow and our youth get jobs and mature people get jobs.” When asked how he would stimulate the economy, Morrow says a plan would develop after meeting with businesses, community stakeholders and city staff. “You just can’t come in and say this is wrong and that is wrong. It’s about collaboration,” he said. Morrow insists that job growth can’t occur in isolation from other issues such as affordable housing or providing sports and cultural amenities, and a balance is required to meet the needs of the public. “I hate seeing the brain drain that leaves our community. I want to see things coming into the community,” he said. “It’s not about running for mayor to be the mayor. It’s about having a community with a healthy environment.” Morrow enters the race for mayor along with Victor Cumming, Mary-Jo O’Keefe and Klaus Tribes. He isn’t concerned about too many names being on the ballot or the vote being split. “I look at it as a positive because if you have a healthy slate for mayor, it shows people are serious about their community,” he said, adding that a range of candidates may also help increase voter turnout. “It shows that people want to be part of moving Vernon into the future.”
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