My name is Jim Benninger and I am the BC Liberal candidate for Courtenay-Comox. I want to tell you a little about myself and what I want to accomplish in our community.
I am 52 years old and I recently retired from the Air Force as commander here at 19 Wing Comox. My wife and I fell in love with the Comox Valley 20 years ago and determined to make it our home. Our son Logan was born here at St. Joseph’s and will graduate this spring from Mark R. Isfeld Secondary.
I am committed to the valley and I want to continue to serve our community as your representative in Victoria. I want to keep our community strong. And one of the ways to do that is to grow our economy here in the valley. We need to provide meaningful work right here so young families and college graduates can earn a good living and raise their families here.
I want to serve as your MLA in a government that recognizes the value of small local businesses and farms. I want to keep corporate taxes low for these entrepreneurs. My family owned and operated a small business for years and I know what it takes to keep a business afloat. In the years I worked at my family’s business, I saw how difficult it was to make even a modest profit. Small and medium-sized business is a large part of our Valley’s economy and we need to continue to support them. Shop Local!
In a growing rural community, it can be a struggle to develop the level of infrastructure we require. Our roads, affordable housing, schools, bridges, water, waste management and health facilities all need attention. Your government has made significant investments here, but there is more to do. I want to be the advocate for the valley to see more infrastructure investments in our community.
Jobs, taxes, infrastructure investment - these are some of the issues I will address as your MLA.
Keeping the Comox Valley strong and vital is my goal. When we have a strong economy, generating good jobs, we increase the quality of life for all who live here.
As your MLA, I would take up the challenge of carrying on the great work of my BC Liberal predecessors.
I want to work with you to identify the best outcomes for our community, not based on politics, but on what is right and in the best interest of our community.
In short, I want to be your ‘champion’ in Victoria for those local issues that impact the Comox Valley and that matter to you.