Why I'm Running

Over the last few years I've asked a lot of questions. Some people probably think I've asked too many. That's okay. I don't ask questions because I enjoy criticizing people. I ask them because I believe every decision, every project, and every policy should be able to stand on its own.

A question isn't an attack, its a question.

If asking a question is enough to threaten an idea, then maybe the problem isn't the question.

If an idea is good, it shouldn't matter who brought it forward.

One thing I've noticed is that local government has developed a habit of treating almost every decision like it's the biggest decision we'll ever make. Sometimes that's exactly the right approach, sometimes it isn't.

If we're spending millions of dollars, changing long-term infrastructure, or making decisions that will affect Bowen for decades, then absolutely—bring me the reports. Bring me the engineers. Bring me the public input. Challenge every assumption before the first shovel touches the ground.

But not every decision deserves years of studies, consultants, and process.

Sometimes when something simply doesn't make sense anymore, fix it, don't talk about it, action a plan assess as you go.

Being a small municipality is one of Bowen's greatest advantages. We can move faster than Metro Vancouver. We can adapt. We can try ideas. We don't need to build bureaucracy simply because larger municipalities do.

Process should help people.

It shouldn't become the product.

Accountability matters. Not because someone needs to be blamed.

Because communities improve when they're honest about what worked, what didn't, and why.

Accountability doesn't mean pointing at the last council. Every council inherits decisions.

But once those decisions become ours, so does the responsibility.

If a project succeeds, understand why.

If it fails, understand why.

Sometimes council gets it wrong.

Sometimes staff do.

Sometimes consultants do.

Sometimes contractors do.

Ignoring mistakes guarantees they'll happen again.

I also believe council should know the limits of its own expertise. Councilors aren't generally subject matter experts in every field.

Experts exist for a reason. Council's job isn't to replace expertise. It's to challenge it, understand it, balance it against community priorities, and make a decision. Good decisions need both evidence and judgment.

Neither works very well without the other. 

One thing I hear all the time is that people need to come to council meetings if they want to be heard. I don't completely buy that. Some people have kids. Some work nights. Some simply aren't comfortable standing at a podium. Others write online. Others send emails. Others stop councilors in the ferry line or the grocery store. Those opinions need  to count too.

Sometimes accessibility is more than another ramp or a parking space. Sometimes accessibility simply means meeting people where they already are, finding solutions to simple problems that make major differences in peoples lives. A recent example of this was the online form for maintenance. For many a call isn't a simple thing, it has all sorts of stresses attached to it and can be both overwhelming and a barrier for them to them to report a problem. These simple wins move the bar.  

I'm also not convinced good ideas only come from committees or organized groups.

Those groups matter. They do important work. But they don't represent everyone. There are a lot of people quietly watching from the sidelines who have practical ideas worth listening to. Council shouldn't care where an idea came from. Council should care whether it's a good idea.

If I'm elected, I'm not promising that everyone will agree with me. Honestly, I'd be worried if they did.

Different opinions are healthy.

The important thing is making sure we're debating ideas instead of people.

That's the kind of council I'd like to be part of.

One that asks difficult questions.

One that admits when something isn't working.

One that celebrates good ideas no matter who brought them forward.

One that isn't just following the lead.

One that actually uses critical thinking before, during and after decisions and adapts fast.

One that respects its residents  wishes and wallets while delivering results.

And one that remembers why we're here in the first place.

To make Bowen a little easier to live on tomorrow than it was yesterday.