After much community encouragement, Town of Comox Coun. Russ Arnott has officially announced his bid to run for mayor of Comox:
With seven years at the council table I feel that running for mayor is the natural progression for me while allowing residents the choice of a new but experienced person as their mayor. I’ve been in the federal public service for 30 years – 25 with the Canadian Coast Guard as officer-in-charge and five as the manager of military housing at CFB Comox.
These diverse management roles have allowed me to experience the complexities of budget preparation, human resources and asset management. Coupled with my two terms as councillor, this understanding allows me to move seamlessly into the mayor’s role so I can continue to work with ease while guiding new council members.
Comox is a special place. Residents are sensitive to the natural beauty that surrounds us and with growth knocking on our door, we want to strike a balance between enriching our community while still protecting what we have come to love. Our sense of community matters.
We are in the enviable position of being one of the safest communities in B.C. and are debt free due to the recent loan completion of the Comox Recreation Centre expansion. Our infrastructure is in good shape, our asset management plan ensures future fiscal responsibility and we have been fortunate with strong governance and administration which all leads to the boon in our economic development.
While we are doing well this is not the time to sit back and bask in our accomplishments. We need to continue to work hard and be fiscally responsible in all areas of town operations. We need to look back and see what we did right, where we can improve and to make the next four years that much better.
I would like to continue on with the enhancements to our waterfront and to make a meaningful push for a proper waterfront walkway, something many have wanted for years. As well, expanding our neighbourhood connectivity with walkways through both new and older areas of town supports a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle.
It is important we continue to make contributions to affordable housing to help those in our community who need it. Partnerships with groups such as Habitat for Humanity are one way that contributes to this goal.
As your mayor, I will give you strength in leadership with experience and skill at the council table. Important to me are transparency, open communication and community engagement. I promise to work hard and represent all of Comox in the best possible way.
Join me in this work because as the saying goes “we will succeed as a team or fail as individuals.” So let’s all work together towards success!
On Oct. 20 please select me, Russ Arnott, as your mayor.
FMI contact russ@russarnott.com or visit www.russarnott.com