Dear Editor,
Good news: It looks like we’ll have a more representative council, with a balance of views, more women and a younger demographic, though only one councillor, at most, has experience at the job. Which mayoral candidate has the skills and background to be best able to lead this promising but inexperienced team?
As a former staff member, Stacy Beamer understands municipal processes and has deep knowledge of our community’s physical infrastructure. Tim Rhodes has been a councillor and acting mayor, has been a hard-working contributor to many committees, and is a good listener and calm facilitator. I believe they both bring skills and experience that would be valuable.
While Murray Skeels is a good and prolific writer, I question whether the skills required to write opinion pieces are the makings of a good leader who must be balanced, thoughtful and respectful.
We need a mayor who will be best able to lead our new council into a respectful, hard-working team that reflects and appreciates the diversity of Bowen’s citizens. A team that will reach past the history of divisiveness and make rapid progress on our top priorities, such as a community centre, health clinic and more diverse and affordable housing.
David Hocking
