Impossible to do both jobs

Dear Editor: Incredible! At The Herald’s election forum one candidate for MLA actually stood and said he’d do double duty; keep his city councillor job and take the MLA job in Victoria if he won. I think he actually meant it, even though he tried to waffle the crowd. Astonishing!

Superman was my first thought, but in reality this reflects either how poorly informed that person is, or he really does just think he’s a legend in his own mind. What’s interesting is that thousands of voters in Penticton gave council a 21 per cent approval rating; they don’t think he has done or can do the job of councillor, let alone any other or another public job. In my estimation that comment reflected his disdain not just for democratic process, but for voters and citizens.

Then he actually bragged about how Penticton’s council, mayor and senior city bureaucrats had loaded resident and working taxpayers with a disproportionate share of taxes. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, this council makes Penticton one of the easiest cities in the province (and in the entire country) to dupe out taxpayers’ dollars.

With a business/residential tax ratio that heavily favours business, and a downtown tax give-away zone for businesses — both corporate handouts he voted for — he conveniently failed to point out these handsome perks for businesses cost residential taxpayers like you and I millions of dollars. Makes one wonder why city administrators and the mayor/council can make a straight faced claim “we” have a $100 million backlog on infrastructure repairs and upgrades even as population has stabilized or declined!

He seems to forget he initially hung his hat — and cast his vote — against Campbell Watt’s motion of reconsideration of the 39-year Trio Marine back room deal that locked a critical part of Skaha Lake Park into private control at well below market value.

And now he’s running on a motto to “work for you,” the people!

And remember when citizens were concerned about a water attraction on Vancouver Hill for the Canada Day weekend? His advice: “Have a glass of wine, sit back and let us have some fun”

(Herald, Feb. 17, 2016). When, as any good opportunist will do, he realized he needed something from the good citizens of Penticton — the very ones he ignored and even insulted — he flipped on Skaha Lake Park. Most people, however, know a tiger never changes its stripes, no matter how loudly it purrs.

The reality is elections are about a lot more than policy. They’re at least equal parts about people, integrity and trust. I just cant seem to find it here. Brian L. Horejsi Penticton