Local business-owner Craig Smith is seeking a second term on city council because he said he still has things to finish.
“Unfortunately city council’s job is never finished, there’s always something new, but we are starting to see some of the things we started come to fruition,” he told the Tribune. “I can see why they went from three year to four-year terms.”
In the last election, Smith said he ran on a platform of removing some of the red tape business development faces and to make the city’s financial decisions more transparent.
“I think both of those have been accomplished. All of our finance meetings are open to the public and they can see all the decisions that we’ve made on the city’s website.”
Another platform Smith and a few other councillors ran on was opening the lake up and with the plans to develop a trail network around the RC Cotton site, that is also starting to happen, although he said, “we are just scratching the surface.”
Smith loves to walk and said he hopes there will be a nice circle trail network for people to enjoy.
VIDEO: Councillor Nelson on plans for new trails and expanded waterfront access in Williams Lake
Crime reduction has and will continue to be a focus for Smith.
“I always ask questions when Insp. Pelley gives his reports and I look at the crime stats. Our crime stats are lower and it’s not even apples to apples because last year we had people away for a whole month.”
Smith said the RCMP’s crime reduction team is setting records and Williams Lake has gone from being top on the crime severity index down to seventh.
“We would like the police service to change how they report crime stats,” he said.
Recently Smith was the only councillor to vote against a proposed set back for a provincial cannabis store in the mall
He said he looks at all aspects of development.
Read more:
Williams Lake mall owners apply for setback variance to allow for provincial cannabis store
If re-elected Smith hopes to continue with efforts to keep city council being transparent.
“I’m a business owner and I believe the city should get the most value for tax money that’s collected. I know how much it takes to make $100 so I think a lot about that when I am spending taxpayers’ money.”
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