Bob Bray announced his candidacy for city council last month as one of four CHOICE candidates.
He grew up in North Vancouver where he met his wife Marilyn.
They raised three children in Richmond, and they are now grandparents of seven. In 2011, Bob and Marilyn moved to Campbell River where four of their grandchildren are growing up.
Now 69 and retired, Bray is a member of the CR Genealogy Society and a member of the CR Seniors Centre Society. He provides family tree charting and ancestry.ca coaching at Bob Bray Stories. He is also an instructor at Elder College.
Bray gained management experience when he administered a treatment facility for children in Richmond. After that he was Assistant Administrator of the Mary Pack Outpatient Hospital of the Arthritis Society in Vancouver. He was Associate Director at the UBC physical plant (buildings, grounds and utilities) doing administration and scheduling for 322 buildings on 990 acres. Later, for eight years he was Director of Administration at the UBC Faculty of Medicine, and then Director of Finance for the Surrey Delta Immigrant Services Society for another eight years. For the final eight years of his career, Bray obtained private sector experience in a profit oriented environment as the Assistant General Manager at Trev Deeley Motorcycles, a Vancouver retailer. Bray holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University, and a BA in sociology and classical studies from UBC.
Recently, Bray was an MLA Candidate in our area for the 2013 provincial election. Prior to that he was the Founding President of the Fleetwood Seniors Computer Club in Surrey. Earlier still he was a President of the Association of Administrative and Professional Staff at UBC. He was also a President of the Richmond Youth Concert Band.
Bray sees similarities between his management roles and the role of city councillor. Both have financial realities to manage and political realities to navigate. He knows that respect, patience, and leadership are job requirements. He will approach the deliberations of council in a non-partisan way and with a consensus-seeking attitude.
He wants to be on city council to help produce the results that flow from good management decisions. He is willing to be held accountable by Campbell River citizens, tourists, and investors for the quality of their experience with our city.
Bray says, “City Hall needs leadership from Council on lower taxes, improved services, program review, regular financial reports, infrastructure prioritizing.There needs to be clear expectations of the City Manager for tighter management controls.”
Bray would like to see city council play a larger role in supporting community agencies. He says, “Last winter’s successful homeless shelter is an example of what can be done.”
Bob wants to take his management experience and apply it to the challenges that will be faced by Council and City Hall in achieving the goal of lower taxes while improving services.
Bob observes, “Now is the time to focus on City Hall management issues while our city’s economy strengthens with major construction projects.”