FRIDAY
October 21, 2011
A division of
Vol. 26 No. 84
Your community. Your newspaper.
Record Staff
Comox Valley Common Sense envisions an economically vibrant Valley that provides jobs, goods and services, and recreation opportunities. As the municipal elections approach, the group is advocating local governments to provide services efficiently and cost-effectively while pulling in the reins on spending and taxes.
It is in the process of talking to candidates in all jurisdictions before endorsing any of them, CVCS spokesperson John Davis said. “We are in the process now of talking to all the candidates, or as many as are happy to talk to us,” he said. The group is a registered campaign organizer with a financial officer. It plans to take out full-page advertisements in local newspapers early next month, at
m Co
Yo ur
year
ANNIVERSARY
SI
NCE 1986
www.comoxvalleyrecord.com
Group planning to endorse candidates Scott Stanfield
which point it will decide on particular endorsements. An ad was to appear in Friday’s Comox Valley Record, “just letting people know that we’re out there,” Davis said. “We won’t be naming any candidates, but we will definitely be supporting candidates and we’ll make that official announcement, again through a full-page ad, in both the local papers. We expect to do so on November the fourth.” Their objective is to have more
Out with the old
DARYL KLASSEN RIPS away part of the facade at Driftwood Dental. Glacier View Plaza, a strip mall off Cliffe Avenue near 26th Street in Courtenay, is renovating to create a new look. Klassen is working for Tectonica Management. PHOTO BY MARK ALLAN
than 50 per cent of the electorate show up at the polls Nov. 19. CVCS has existed for about three years. “We started a little bit of work with (former Courtenay mayor) Starr Winchester, and we’ve been poking around quietly since then, but I think we’re going to become a little more visible now,” Davis said. Winchester is among 16 candidates vying for six seats on Courtenay council. There are 12 candidates competing for six seats in Comox while Cumberland has eight candidates vying for four seats. Area directors Bruce Jolliffe, Jim Gillis and Edwin Grieve have retained their seats by acclamation, and Cumberland Coun. Leslie Baird was acclaimed village mayor for the next term. Courtenay Mayor Greg Phelps is being challenged by Coun. Larry Jangula and Bill Bate, and Comox Mayor Paul Ives faces a single challenger in Bernie Poole. “They’re (CVCS) a group of concerned citizens. They’re a very legitimate organization,” said Poole, president of the BC Liberal Association, who notes the polarization of politics in the Valley. “There are lots of organized groups — labour groups, union groups — supporting politicians on the left at all levels of government,” Poole said. “The problem is on the right, all of us are so busy working at our businesses and other endeavours that we don’t seem to spend the time getting involved.” CVCS supports candidates who possess the qualities and principles to manage people’s business. It feels local government should focus on providing basic services and facilities, “and avoid becoming involved in too much.” In terms of infrastructure, its priorities include a deep water intake in Comox Lake and sewage treatment facilities to service the entire Valley. It also advocates for a northern connector linking the Inland Island Highway to Veteran’s Memorial Parkway. For more information visit www.votecommonsense.ca.
SUPER SEASON
The Schulte family had a great racing season. ■ B11
TALK ROCK
From the Northwest Territories to the 2010 Olympics, Shane Koyczan comes to the Sid Williams Theatre on Oct. 27 in one of the biggest concerts promoted by Cumberland Village Works. Born in Yellowknife, Koyczan grew up in Penticton. In 2000, he became the first Canadian to win the individual championship at the U.S. national Poetry Slam. Also a winner of the Canadian Spoken Word Olympics, he has been featured on BRAVO television.
...Full story on page ■ B1
FINDER ■ Weather
A2
■ Lottery
A6
■ Ferry Schedule
A6
■ Editorial
A32
■ Opinion
A33
■ Arts
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
B1
■ Sports
B11
■ Classified
B25
MAKES YARDWORK www.westernone.ca 250-339-4518 662 Anderton Road, Comox
BG 55 Gas Blower 27.2 cc/0.7 kW/4.1 kg
179
$
* 95 MSRP $219.95
BR 600 Backpack Blower 64.8 cc/3.0 kW/9.8 kg
549
$
N
aper
inc. H.S.T.
i t y r Yo ur
sp
$1.25
un
ew
COMOX VALLEY RECORD
m
* 95 MSRP $629.95
SH 56 C-E Shredder/ Blower
BGE 71 Electric Blower 120 V/1.1 kW/3.1 kg
27.2 cc/0.7 kW/5.2 kg
24995
$
*
MSRP $299.95
13995
$
*
MSRP $149.95