Pick your candidate.
Several candidates filed their nomination papers Tuesday in what should be an interesting race for the new town council.
As expected Ten Cronmiller has thrown his name into the hat for the position of councillor for the Town of Osoyoos.
Cronmiller has been a resident of Osoyoos for the past six years, five of which he served as the Detachment Commander of the Osoyoos RCMP.
He retired in 2004 but has since rejoined the RCMP as a part-time Reserve Constable.
In my spare time, I have participated in many aspects of the community. At present, I am the Vice President of the Osoyoos Golf and Country Club, the Vice Chairman of Destination Osoyoos, Vice Chairman of the Relay for Life and a member of the Osoyoos Parks and Recreation Commission, Cronmiller said.
He enjoys golf and curling as recreation activities, and feels his involvement in service to the community has prepared him well for a position as town councillor.
It was only after a short time in Osoyoos that my wife and I decided this was a community where we wanted to live and retire. We enjoy it here and look forward to the future. I would like to see Osoyoos continue to be the type of place where people come and find it a place where they want to stay and live.
Our quality of life is special and I want to work for the people of Osoyoos to maintain this great quality of life.
There are many issues facing a councillor today: development, infrastructure, water quality and future planning, to name a few.
I believe I can bring to the position common sense, experience and a willingness to listen and to provide what we the people of Osoyoos want for our community, said Cronmiller.
It should also come as no surprise that Jean Gubby has decided to run.
Gubby emigrated to Ottawa from England in 1967. She and her husband have lived in Osoyoos for three years.
She lists her favourite leisure activities as cooking, gardening and quilting, but said her real hobby is volunteering.
Gubby's past work experience includes community development, social housing, municipal recreation and community liaison/program planning for the Ottawa Board of Education. She has also been active as a community volunteer most of her adult life.
As a councillor in Kanata, I dealt with many of the issues and concerns that have recently been raised in Osoyoos, said Gubby.
I believe my municipal government experience and extensive community development background has given me the skills and perspective that this town needs on its council.rnIf elected, Gubby said she would push for open and meaningful communication between the council and residents, and ensure that planning and development place more emphasisrnon community needs and address environmental concerns.
I would also press for a full review of the council's mandate to Destination Osoyoos. There is considerable public concern over the present relationship, especially the lack of openness about where the money goes, and I have a hard time understanding why it needs an 18-member board to direct the Director of Economic Development, Gubby added.
Gubby said that since moving to Osoyoos, she has found plenty of new volunteering opportunities. She currently serves on two council-appointed committees: the OCP Review Committee and the Community Centre Committee.
She also is involved with the Concert Series and the high school muffin program, and has just stepped down after two years as the Osoyoos and District Arts Council President.
All of these activities have helped me to get to know many Osoyoos residents, given me insight into the needs of the community, and reinforced my belief that when people work together with respect and good listening skills, the quality of life is enhanced for us all, Gubby said.
Allan Carswell is also running for council.
Carswell has lived in Osoyoos for 10 years – five in the rural area and five in the town.
For the first five years, he and his wife operated a 10-acre orchard.
Carswell has a Masters degree in geophysics and has worked in that field for more than 20 years. He currently works as a consulting geophysicist.
His hobbies include woodworking, hiking, travelling and scuba diving.
Although Carswell has not held a position in public office, he has become increasingly active in the community through the Friends of Desert Park Society and the Osoyoos Now Society.
The job of a geophysicist is to solve complex problems using a limited amount of information, which is often similar to running a town where the future path is mapped based on limited information, Carswell said.
Osoyoos is one of the greatest places in the world to live, and when you live in paradise, you must be careful to do things the right way.
Carswell feels his biggest strengths are his problem-solving ability and his desire to learn new things.
People said we were crazy when we bought an orchard, having had no farming experience, but we learned fast and did a good job. Becoming a councillor, having had no experience, is no bigger step than that, and it's a challenge I'm ready to take on.
Carswell said he would like to see a more positive, community-based approach in the future council.
Every decision ultimately must satisfy two questions: 1) What is the benefit to the community? and 2) What is the impact to the community? explained Carswell.
After running unsuccesfully for the Regional District Area A director position, Sherri Linn has decided to run for one of the four councillor positions in Osoyoos.
Linn has been a property owner in rural Osoyoos since 1990 and has lived here permanently for 12 years. She worked for more than 20 years as a manager with BC Tel (Telus), as well as Haynes Point Provincial Park for two years and Nk'Mip Desert and Heritage Centre for three years.
Her hobbies have included showing and breeding Golden Retrievers, birding, hiking and horses.
Linn has been a volunteer for numerous organizations, including SORCO (also serving as a director and a treasurer); the Oliver chapter of Ducks Unlimited Canada (working with their Greenwing Program for children); the Osoyoos Oxbows Restoration Society (as Secretary/Treasurer); Oliver Osoyoos Naturalists; Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society; Bird Studies Canada and the Southern Interior Bluebird Trail Society.
Linn has also been involved with the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program and has visited both Sagebrush Lodge and McKinney Place Extended Care on a regular basis with her trained dogs.
She was also the Alternate Director for Area A for two and a half years.
I am running because I believe it is time to stop driving a wedge between town and rural residents and to begin dealing with issues as a true community, Linn said.
The way that town council is trying to annex more of the rural area in a piecemeal fashion is not only unfair to the rural residents, it is unfair to the town residents.
I would like to see a proper full study with all the positives and negatives spelled out for our becoming a district municipality, culminating in a referendum where everyone has a say.
As a councillor I will bring a good ear, a voice for the people and a balance to the issues that are currently dividing the residents. I will work very hard to truly make this a community, not just give it lip service because it sounds good.rnAlthough Linn lives outside the town boundaries, she emphasized that she supports the local economy by shopping and using the services offered within the town.
My parents are senior citizens living in town and I know their frustrations over development issues, taxes and the wasted dollars spent on legal fights. It's time for a change.
