Birthday: July 7, 1943
Personal background: I am a fourth-generation Victorian. I'm a mother two of two grown sons and a proud grandmother of Lily and Jackson.
Professional background: I am currently the director of the Victoria Silver Threads Centre. I was previously an elementary school teacher, and a talk sow host on CFAX Radio. I am also the former executive director of the Better Business Bureau.
Political/community experience: First elected to Saanich council in 2005. Chair of the Saanich Environmental Advisory Committee, and past chair of Healthy Saanich and Saanich Environment Committee. I'm also a director at the Capital Regional District and am a member of the CRD Traffic Safety Commission. I was previously the mayor of Oak Bay, from 1985-1990, as well as a former Saanich South MLA (2001-2005).
-----
What will be the most pressing issue for Saanich Council to deal with in the 2011-2014 term?
Managing traffic regionally and playing a leadership role in the future transit network. This will have to be accomplished within the taxpayer’s ability to pay for these transit solutions.
What is your proudest accomplishment from this current term on Council?
Approval of the Mt. View Campus of Care with its wide range of social benefits, securing Panama Flats into public hands thus ensuring habitat protection and flood plain management, and protecting Haro Woods as a vital green space in perpetuity.
What has been the biggest failure of the current council?
Despite our support of the CRD Housing Corporation, Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Coalition to end Homelessness and our focus on supporting rental units and secondary suites and the approval of the Mt. View Campus of Care we have been unsuccessful in convincing the Federal Government to commit to and fund an Affordable Housing Strategy.
How do you attract unengaged voters to participate and be interested in municipal politics?
Technology will provide more opportunities for residents to engage in the democratic process. As opportunities come available we must not only provide for on-line voting but also provide for citizen engagement between elections on issues important to them. After the election there needs to be an analysis of the reasons people give as to why they chose not to vote. Then a determination can be made as to what would be the most effective changes council could make to heighten their participation in future elections.