I want to remove the barriers stopping people from coming downtown and restore the vibrant downtown that has been lost. Without people in the economic and cultural heart of the city, we don’t have a downtown. Our neighbourhoods matter just as much, because Victoria is a city of neighbourhoods. Community associations have long been stewards of these neighbourhoods, and their hard-won experience is critical to the long-term health of our communities.

In my career, I have been part of teams solving significant challenges – such as evacuating people from Williams Lake during the devastating fires of 2017, getting sustained provincial funding approved for BC Search and Rescue, and leading the provincial team for Metro Vancouver’s regional growth strategy.

I know how much pain and financial hardship can be avoided by planning ahead. I have seen good ideas miss the mark during implementation and I know what is required to achieve a positive outcome. I know the importance of informed decision-making. Perspectives and feelings matter and they need to be backed up by facts and data. Cities are a bit like complex strata corporations. It’s hard to convince people to spend money now to save in the future. The tendency is to kick the can down the road and leave the the bill for others to pay later. I won’t do that. I will work to leave things better than I found them.

I will be a responsible steward of our limited resources and will focus on the core responsibilities of local government: infrastructure, transportation, public safety, affordability, and public transportation systems that work for all.