Dear editor,
I am not running in the November election but have been asked numerous time who would I recommend deserves your vote. I would first say that any of the candidates that are running deserve a pat on the back just for stepping up.
For councillors, I would urge you to vote for Starr Winchester and Jon Ambler. They are both experienced and are supportive of business and controlling costs.
I would strongly urge you not to vote for Ronna-Rae Leonard, Doug Hillian, and Norm Reynolds who in my opinion do not understand the importance of the business community or make any attempt to support businesses and the jobs they create.
I am not commenting on their character, just their suitability to govern. Governments should be run as efficiently as most business and not cover up inefficiencies by increasing property taxes! Businesses who can't control their spending year after year go broke; politicians who can't control their spending should not be re-elected.
There are too many other good candidates out there to choose from for the final four in Courtenay, so go ahead and see how the other candidates feel about controlling costs and supporting the business community. I really like what I have seen so far of some of the new candidates such as David Smith, Marcus Felgenhauer, Jean Rowe and Bill Anglin.
Who to support for mayor — this has caused me much anxiety as both Larry and Greg are my friends, or at least were my friends. I originally told them that I would not support one over the other but this election is too important for Courtenay for me to be neutral.
Greg has experience, worked hard as the mayor, understood the importance of business in nurturing a sustainable community and for the most part supported business. My only major disagreement with him was the refusal to relook at the homeless shelter site on Cliffe Avenue.
Contrary to some comments that have been made by others I do not consider Greg as a supporter of the left but in fact a supporter of the business right but with a social conscience!
Larry and I usually agreed on most items and if he was running again for councillor he would have my complete support. My concern with Larry as a possible mayor is that he is not a team leader or a team player.
Case in point is the support he is now giving the Maple Pool owners contrary to an ongoing legal action taken by the City. In my opinion, an incumbent candidate who originally supported the legal action should not be seen to be involved on one side or the other. Regardless of your opinion on the City's decision, once you start a legal action you support the team's action unless new information comes forward that requires the team to reconsider their decision. On this particular issue, the only new information was the confirmation from engineers that indeed there is an increasing flood risk to the Maple Pool campsite.
Please consider my comments as only an attempt at giving you the voter some of my personal observations. I also want to thank you for supporting me in the previous five elections — it was a real honour!
J. Murray Presley,
Courtenay
Editor's note: Murray Presley is not running for re-election as a Courtenay councillor.