TUESDAY November 11, 2014 Vol. 29 • No. 90 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
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Up close and personal with the Courtenay candidates Scott Stanfield Record Staff
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and Creative Employment Access Society hosted a ‘speed campaigning’ event that provided participants with a close-up look at the candidates vying for a seat on Courtenay council in Saturday’s election. Wednesday at the Westerly, small groups had seven minutes to converse with candidates, who rotated from table to table at the sound of a bell. “I thought the format was excellent,” said Mayor Larry Jangula, who credits the hosts for offering an event that was “uniquely different” from the usual all-candidate forums. “There were almost no two tables that were alike as far as questions. It was a good experience for those running. And for the electorate, they had a firsthand opportunity to sit down face-to-face and see how the candidates handle questions, see how they think, see how they respond.” To gain a better understanding
PHOTO BY ERIN HALUSCHAK
Courtenay mayoral candidate Jon Ambler discusses the issues with a table of voters. Courtenay mayoral and council candidates engaged in a ‘speed campaigning’ event with voters Wednesday at the Westerly. The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and CEAS hosted the event. of each person, Bill Jackson made notes during a preamble where candidates said a few words before the group sessions.
“I can certainly see the people who have good intentions, versus the people who have some concrete ideas, which we need,”
Jackson said. He put candidates to the test with questions about downtown revitalization, handling pressure
from special interest groups, and the difference between commercial and residential taxes. “I have a lot of respect for anybody running here for council,” Jackson said. “It’s quite a challenge. You have to be knowledgeable on so many topics.” “I enjoyed the format,” said Helen Boyd, who attended as a member of the Comox Valley Network Association of Registered Nurses of B.C. (comoxvalleycares. com). “I thought it was really personal to be able to talk to the politicians individually, and to have our issue of homelessness addressed with each and every one of them.” The association wants people to vote yes in a non-binding referendum question regarding a homelessness tax that will appear in a separate ballot Nov. 15. They fear a no vote would send the wrong message to politicians, indicating a lack of interest in the homelessness issue. Each politician Boyd quizzed said they would vote yes to this question.
... see FORUM ■ 5
Four-term councillor Fletcher will watch election from the sidelines Erin Haluschak Record Staff
For the first time in 12 years, Patti Fletcher won’t have quite as many butterflies in her stomach on election night as in the past. The long-serving Comox councillor will be carefully watching the results come in — but this time as a citizen, and not as a candidate. “It’s time to let go and explore life after council. I’m absolutely in the right place and so far, I feel good about it,” Fletcher explained. Reflecting on her tenure at the
After 12 years serving the Town of Comox, Patti Fletcher attended her final council meeting Nov. 5 council table, the former program director for the Comox Recreation Commission said she was inspired in her early-20s by two female aldermen — Alice Bullen and Clare Ensom — whose work she admired. “I thought about it quite a bit, thinking maybe I can do that some day. The two women showed
me that I could be (at the council table).” When she first made the decision to run, Fletcher admitted she was naïve about the process and the role, but decided she had nothing to lose. Working at the rec centre, she gained knowledge about the town and staff roles, and campaigned on making
Comox a better place to work and live. “I lived and worked in town, and I really cared and had an interest in it. I remember my first rack card slogan was ‘I care about Comox’,” she noted, and added it was important to her to run while she was working and running a business. “It was important that I did not wait until I was retired to be on council … I had this impression that everyone on council was retired and thus not giving a complete perspective on the town.”
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