Having lived most of his life in Summerland, Blair Parker is throwing his hat in the ring for District of Summerland councillor.
“I genuinely want to improve the community. I will do what’s right for Summerland, even if it’s not the most popular,” he said, noting that the new council will have four years to get it right.
Parker, who owns a farm in Summerland, has been in business management for more than 20 years, and has numerous credentials including budgeting, strategic planning, innovation, and problem solving. He said he is putting those skills in use with his farm, where he is working towards biodiversity and a self sustaining operation. He said he will use those same skills should he be elected to council.
“It is important to be accountable to the residents,” he said. “I feel my knowledge and experience can help council move forward in an orderly and affordable way. It is my hope to follow in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps in serving my community.”
Parker said councils need to make decisions based on the facts, and he is willing to gather those facts and not enter into decision making until all the checks and balances are in place.
“Council needs to plan for the future, and not waste money on cheap repairs (cold mix for potholes), when there are proven better ways to do things,” he said, noting it is important for council to put provisions in place to receive all the pertinent information, an become educated to make informed decisions.
“Council needs to adhere to existing budgets and not raise taxes for projects that haven’t been well thought out,” he said.
“We need all the facts before a decision is made.”
“Living here most of my life I now want to give back to the community that has given me so much.”
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