After six years on city council, Coun. Mary Storry wants to make it nine.
Storry, the first candidate to file nomination papers, is seeking re-election.
“We’re on the verge of some great opportunities for Campbell River and I want to be here to see it through and be a part of council as the community moves forward,” Storry says. “I enjoy being on council and knowing the different aspects of the city. I think I can help the community and my experience will help the community over the next three years.”
Storry says the next city council is in for some challenging times with the city’s financial position and the unknowns surrounding Catalyst, such as the amount of taxation it will receive from the shuttered mill.
“The loss of taxation money from the mill is going to haunt us again next year so it will be a budget challenge on how to maintain the services in the community to keep it looking great so we can attract new business,” Storry says. “We need to encourage new business to replace the tax revenue from the mill.”
To that end, Storry pledges to continue to encourage new development and support the efforts of the Creative Industries Council, which seeks to attract new media and technology businesses.
Storry also wants the opportunity to continue to lobby for a new hospital and look for opportunities to pursue funding for a new, all-weather field at Robron Park.
She also plans to work with Campbellton First, a group of residents and businesses who want the city to give more priority to the north end of town.
“I’m going to work with Campbellton to help them improve their area,” says Storry, who attended Campbellton First’s one and only meeting last month.
If re-elected, Storry also plans on working with the Community Partnership Committee which is responsible for distributing funds to community groups such as the Art Gallery, Tidemark Theatre, Museum, Salmon Festival and Arts Council.
“Some groups may have a tough time coming up because they may be losing their bingo moneys,” Storry says. “If that happens it could be a struggle to provide services.”
Storry wants to ensure that does not happen by working with the city’s committee to support community groups in whatever way it can.
Despite the city’s challenges over the past six years, Storry said the city has made a lot of steps in the right direction.
“I really, really like the Spirit Square – it’s well-used and the programming is great,” Storry says. “We also added seven new washrooms in town.
“It’s been a tough three years but I’m proud we won some sustainability awards and we did the airport runway extension and the highway upgrade – it’s beautiful, it was on time and on budget.”
Storry says it’s crucial to elect a council that can continue making positive improvements.
“It is always important for voters to consider each candidate very carefully,” Storry said. “This term, it is more important than ever for us to make sure we elect candidates that can ‘drive the bus’ towards a positive future.
“I am appreciative of the voter support in previous elections, and trust that I can continue to meet your expectations in the upcoming term.”
Storry wants to hear from the community and will hold two coffee sessions, open to the public, in the Gabriola Room at the Discovery Inn on Sat., Nov. 5 and Sat., Nov. 12 from 10 a.m.-noon both days for a casual meet and greet.