by David Frisch | Jan 28, 2015 | Blog, News
As the City of Courtenay works to create it’s first Asset Management Plan, I am encouraged to learn that it will allow all of us to better plan for a sustainable future. I think this plan will give us a better understanding of the true cost of our roads, sewer, water, and hopefully natural assets, like watersheds, estuary, and other ecosystems, that make our valley so great! The Town of Gibson has gone so far as to include natural assets (albeit not yet as a dollar figure) in their financial statements – http://www.gibsons.ca/eco-assets. What will we do?...
by David Frisch | Dec 9, 2014 | Blog, News
Posted Dec 3, 2014 at 12:00 PM – Scott Stanfield (Record Staff) Mayor Larry Jangula and the six recently elected members of Courtenay council were sworn-in at the inaugural meeting Monday. Jangula, along with Couns. Manno Theos, Bob Wells and Erik Eriksson, will represent the city on the Comox Valley Regional District board. Jangula had sat on the CVRD board before being elected mayor in 2011 while Theos was a district director last term. Eriksson has previously sat on Courtenay and Tahsis councils. Couns. David Frisch, Doug Hillian and Rebecca Lennox are alternate district directors. Though council agreed unanimously on Jangula’s recommended appointments, Hillian thought Frisch should be worthy of a seat at the district table, considering the first-time councillor topped the polls by more than 600 votes at the Nov. 15 election. “The democratic will of the people, to a certain extent, is not being reflected in the appointments,” Hillian said. “To me, that’s an issue.” He also noted the added pressures on Jangula’s already demanding schedule as mayor. As opposed to a recommended two-year appointment to the CVRD, Hillian suggested a one-year term would provide opportunity for a review period. “I think, given that it’s a new term, there’s some uncertainties involved. I’d be happy to support the appointments on the basis of that amendment.” Theos noted a steep learning curve at the CVRD, which is “run very differently” from Courtenay council. Since council is now a four-year term, he favours a two-year appointment where directors can “move forward, get their feet wet and be productive” as CVRD board members. “It’s a very difficult mandate,” said Jangula,...
by David Frisch | Dec 9, 2014 | Blog, News
Posted Dec 1, 2014 at 1:00 PM – Erin Haluschak Record Staff The Next Generation of Political Leaders: Following the results of the recent municipal election, reporter Erin Haluschak examines the shift of youth in local politics and the perspectives, challenges and ideas they will bring to their respective council tables. This is the second part of this feature series which began Nov. 25 with a look at Comox Valley young elected officials and the challenges and outlooks they have within the next four years. When Rebecca Lennox first thought about running for municipal politics she knew as one of the youngest candidates, her age could be either a detriment or a positive factor in her campaign. She was ready and willing to take that risk. “It’s all about perspective,” said the first-time Courtenay councillor, who, along with David Frisch and Bob Wells, are some of the youngest members of the recently-elected Courtenay council. “We are young, but we represent a growing demographic.” Along with the trio in Courtenay who were all elected under age 40, Cumberland also faced a youth shift during the recent municipal election, with councillors Sean Sullivan and Jesse Ketler elected to represent the village. It’s a shift which Lennox, 31, was hoping for, and while aware of some of the perceptions which come with a young elected official (“definitely experience comes with age”), she sought mentorship through past councillors and the Young Elected Officials Network. Lennox attended a one-day workshop for any youth interested in entering the fall municipal election, and while there, noticed a large gap in the lack of youth representation in both the...
by David Frisch | Nov 4, 2014 | Blog, News
Post by Elect David...
by David Frisch | Oct 10, 2014 | Blog, News
I recently did an interview with 98.9 The Goat, one of our local radio stations. Although we were not able to embed the full interview here on my website, I would direct you to their website to have a quick listen. Click to listen to the interview >>...
