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Former mayor, MLA, Walt Cobb to take another run at mayor’s chair

Former mayor and MLA Walt Cobb is vying for the mayor’s chair.
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Lynnette Cobb and Jim and Ruth Fraser enjoy a moment with Walt Cobb outside city hall Monday after he announced his intent to run for mayor.

Former mayor and MLA Walt Cobb is vying for the mayor’s chair.

“The winds of change are blowing in our city, people are concerned with the direction we are heading,” Cobb said in a formal statement released last week.

Cobb has lived in Williams Lake for 50 years and been involved for almost that long with different organizations and the people of Williams Lake from Boy Scouts to assisting in the building of housing for seniors in Glen Arbor and those with disabilities at Baker Manor.

“Over the years we have had our ups and downs, however, I have never heard rumblings like I’m hearing lately,” Cobb said in a press release. “It is time to change to a more positive productive outlook. One where we are all pulling together to make a difference.”

Recalling 1996 when the city was making the last payment on its general revenue debt, Cobb said working relations with staff, from what he observed, were great both at city hall and the works department.

“Not only do we need to improve our future outlook, we need to ensure there is hope and future for our kids,” he said. “We cannot continue to alienate any sector of our community.”

Insisting debt cannot continue to grow and taxes cannot continue to rise, Cobb referenced the city is paying yearly interest on debt totalling  $846,634 as of the 2013 budget.

“Economic Development is costing us over $300,000 per year, I will work to make sure that department shows results,” he added.

Cobb said jobs, supported by business and industry, are needed if people want to live and play and prosper in Williams Lake.

“We must stop the exodus and find ways of encouraging new investment and business,” he suggested.

“Our tax base needs expansion and it is time to work with industry and the retail sector to find ways of diversifying.” There is no reason we do not have more secondary industry here and I will work with the existing operators to encourage expansion.”

Cobb is anxious to talk with voters and said he can be reached on his cell at 250-392-0459.



Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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