The last two candidates to enter the race for council want to prove to voters they can represent Terrace interests.
Vice-chair of the Coast Mountain College board David Try and business owner Martin Holzbauer join the six other candidates vying for an open seat.
Try is running in his first civic election and moved to Thornhill in 2004 after a 33-year career in policy management for the federal government. In addition to his position at the college, he also runs a consulting business with his wife.
He said he decided to run to increase the diversity of this year’s candidates and bring his own insights to decisions made in council chambers.
“I think we’ve benefited from good strong management in administration in the city… I would like to continue that trend, especially in a period of what appears to be rapid change,” Try said over the phone. “You need management always but you need leadership in times of change.”
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While he hasn’t attended any city council meetings yet, he has started campaigning with local business owners and on Facebook.
“I want this to be a friendly place to do business; to have an ‘open for business’ slogan,” he said. “We mostly are, but I want to make sure that in a period of rapid transition that we can respond appropriately to ensure we take maximum advantage of opportunities that a boom might create.”
His nomination package was signed by Bruce Bidgood and Yoon Sun Yoo.
Holzbauer has run for city council before in 2011 and is taking his second run at an open seat this year. He is also running for the Regional District for Area C (Rural Terrace) against Bruce Bidgood.
A resident of Thornhill for the past 28 years, he decided to run for council again to provide a “different perspective” on some issues.
“My background is in energy efficiency, because to me doing the right thing actually creates more jobs and creates more fully sustainable long-term jobs,” he said. In July, he gave a presentation to city council on the Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE)program, an initiative that encourages more energy efficient infrastructure.
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“I believe our community is full of untapped potential. I want to find ways to support investment by local people and at the same time increase long-term job security of our citizens and their children,” he wrote in a letter to the Terrace Standard.
His nomination package was signed by Linda Lee and Jane Arbuckle.
Council candidates will be meeting during the All Candidates Meeting on Oct. 10. General voting day is Oct. 20.
brittany@terracestandard.com
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