Dear editor,
As a Courtenay mayoralty candidate, I will post my answers to questions sent to candidates by Comox Valley Common Sense on my own website at www.gregphelps.ca.
As civic leaders in our community, people expect us to be open, accountable and transparent.
I would expect the same thing from a group with interest in influencing the outcome of the local elections in Courtenay and Comox. It's a simple question: Who are those guys?
When I received their questionnaire, I e-mailed their spokesman with several questions of my own.
Primarily, who are the people behind Common Sense? How much money do they intend to raise? Who will determine if a candidate meets the goals of this group? Does this group intend to support candidates financially?
While I did receive some answers, none of them would meet the test of being open, accountable and transparent, specifically related as to who was behind the group.
I will also post my questions and their response on my website.
I fully support the right of groups to get involved in educating the public on where the candidates stand on various issues.
Environmental groups may ask questions skewed toward their area of concern, and other groups like Citizen Voice are viewed as coming from the left. And, both groups will publicly and proudly tell you who they are and what they are about.
I won't shy away from questions; my obligation is to the voters of Courtenay.
Greg Phelps,
Courtenay