Ex-mayor series continues with David Perry
David Perry was mayor of Penticton from 2002 to 2005.
He was first elected to council in 1990 and served four terms. After serving as mayor, he ran for the federal Liberal party, losing to Stockwell Day, and spent one term on the Okanagan Skaha School District board from 2008 to 2011.
Perry has a master’s degree from UBC. Following university, he taught law and social studies at Pen-Hi and later served as an Aboriginal student counsellor. He had a 32-year career in teaching.
He spoke recently with Valley editor James Miller in what’s the fifth in a series of seven interviews with former Penticton mayors.
HERALD: What have you been doing for the past 13 years?
PERRY: After retiring from the school district, I spent some time in real estate, and now my wife and I spend most of the winter in Bucerias, Mexico.
HERALD: Did you enjoy being mayor of Penticton?
PERRY: Yes, I very much enjoyed being mayor. My term from 2002 to 2005 was the culmination of 15 years of service to the citizens of Penticton. It is a demanding position as you realize you cannot keep everyone happy, but the challenge of doing your best for your community outweighs any negative aspects.
HERALD: What accomplishment were you proudest of during your time as mayor?
PERRY: The initiation of the sizable youth skateboard park, featured last week as the site of what is being called the “best skateboard show in years,” was one. The other achievement was securing the first government funding for the SOEC. MLA Bill Barrisoff and I were successful in convincing the surrounding communities to use their 2010 Olympic initiatives to support the so-named South Okanagan Events Centre, which they all would benefit from. The province contributed $9.7 million to get the project started, as a part of the Olympic legacy.
HERALD: A big issue in the 2005 election was Munson Mountain. What do you think of what’s transpired over the past 13 years with relation to that issue? It comes up in the news every couple of years.
PERRY: Munson Mountain continues to attract attention long after the election campaign of 2005. What started out clearly as a NIMBY issue pushed by neighbours who did not want to see any activity on lands purchased by the city in 2003 has morphed into a larger issue as the city still is short on recreational space. A 1993 consultants’ report stated that the city should look at purchasing land adjacent to the Munson Mountain Park to expand space for recreational activities. Now it is interesting that some of those opposed to the city’s direction currently sit on the agricultural committee and recently approved the construction of a hotel on agricultural land. Playing fields are not OK, but a commercial hotel is. It was gratifying to see this council follow through and support the relocation of the BMX track to Munson Mountain, a great location for this youth activity.
HERALD: Do you expect Skaha Lake Park will be a significant issue in the Oct. 20 municipal election or have people moved on?
PERRY: No, Skaha Park is not as dead an issue as the members of this council may wish it to be. Whatever the excuses were — a “learning experience,” poor leadership from the then-CAO — the public has not forgotten how badly city council handled this file. No one stood up as a champion of the public and many, many voters will not forget that come election time this fall. The marina sits derelict to this day as a frustrating reminder to citizens of this massive boondoggle.
HERALD: Your expense accounts were probably the lowest of any mayor in the past 20 years. When you were on the school board, your expenses one year were zero. Was that deliberate?
PERRY: I was always sensitive to expenses while on the public expense account. While some meetings and trips are important, particularly for the mayor, many are not and are simply glad-handing, social get-togethers. No one will argue that public officials are entitled to some travel and meeting opportunities as compensation for hours worked and a stipend that often does not keep up. But as recently, rooms at the Pan Pacific are hugely expensive and the average taxpayer will likely never have an opportunity to stay in such accommodation in their lifetime. I coined the term “junket” as a way to try to get elected officials to take a harder look at their expenses. Sometimes our elected representatives begin to think that they are full-time, paid officials entitled to excessive expenses, when in reality they are volunteers on a stipend.
HERALD: How will you be voting in the proportional representation referendum?
PERRY: I am waiting to see a more complete breakdown of how this will impact us at the local level. Many were confused the last time this was pursued, so I am hoping for a clearer explanation. As far as the prospect of a minority government is concerned, I will say that I am pleased with the impact the NDP/Green model is having on our province. Unlike the previous government that was notorious for bulling ahead, the current NDP has to move carefully and consider the Greens’ platform as well, which I think is resulting in good governance for the citizens of British Columbia.
HERALD: Nova Scotia recently cancelled all school boards. As a former trustee, do you feel B.C. should eventually do the same?
PERRY: I heartily commend the government of Nova Scotia for moving forward and collapsing the old-fashioned school board model across their province. It is long overdue here in British Columbia since past governments eliminated bargaining with local teachers and control over other financial matters. However, since Christy Clark began her war on the provinces’ education system in 2002, the government has slyly kept school boards in place as a buffer between themselves and voters angry with school closures and cutbacks to classrooms as well as teachers facing dropping wages. As those days appear to be over, it is time for the province to look closely at the role of the impotent school board and consider a move that makes regional governance the new model and thereby saving millions of dollars across the province.
HERALD: How do you think the present Penticton city council is doing?
PERRY: Forgive me as a former mayor if I say that the current city council is struggling. Having taken two years to figure out they needed to hire a real CAO with real experience, then recognizing that transparency with the taxpayer really is important, now they find themselves embroiled in an effort to address the problem of public drug abuse and escalating property crime that never should have been allowed to get out of control. Voters heading to the polls in October will have a chance to reflect on whether this council represented their concerns or not. I am very frustrated to either open my newspaper or watch provincial daily news to find articles on: public drug use, needle collection programs, takedown arrests on Main Street or property thefts run amok in our community. I was less than impressed with the mayor’s public TV appearance supposedly addressing the crackdown on this negative behaviour in our city.
HERALD: Who on this council, if anyone, are you most impressed with?
PERRY: I cannot single out any one individual on this council that is doing an exceptional job. Like other past mayors, I too lament the absence of a champion who is prepared to stand up for what the public sees as going wrong with our city. Our CAO seems to be taking the lead on the major issues facing us while council sits silently on their hands. There is nothing wrong with being a voice on council that runs counter to the collective thinking of the group.
HERALD: How about the school board?
PERRY: Bruce Johnson is the only trustee worth his salt. I believe the record will show that many votes are 6-1 as this one elected representative is prepared to let his stance be noted as usually in support of parents and students. With election season upon us, new candidates need to step forward and replace this group, particularly for Summerland that has suffered from proposed school closures and a lack of updated facilities. Already the names of credible people are being talked about as a way to change this status quo board.
HERALD: Have you ever considered a political comeback?
PERRY: I am always gratified with the number of people that approach me and ask if I will run again. If I were to run, it would be on a strong platform of taking our community back from the drug users and petty criminals who have drastically changed the livability of our town in the last two years and hide behind the veil of people really in need. If our elected officials and police bureaucrats will not stand up to this scourge, who will?
HERALD: What do you see as the No. 1 issue facing Penticton right now?
PERRY: The spread of public drug abuse and the accompanying property crime. CAO Peter Weeber talks about the wolves out there, and he is quite right. The only surprising thing are the regular confusing statements from our chief of police who seems to want to be a social worker rather than an enforcer of the law. When he speaks about wanting to build relationships, the rest of us are busy picking up needles and trying to protect our property. The city is being held hostage by BC Housing as they push their aggressive agenda to encourage more drug addicts to take root in our community. We need a strong council and chief of police who are prepared to stand up and say enough . . . and really mean it!
HERALD: What advice do you give to citizens who are considering running for city council or mayor?
PERRY: If running for city council, make sure you have prepared yourself by attending council meetings and sitting on city committees to gain experience and understanding. We need younger — age 30-40 — people with experience who are prepared to step up and take leadership roles. While past experience is an asset, we do not need any 80-year-old members on council. There are potential candidates out there that understand this unique community and have a vision of what we could become. They need to step forward and share that with us during a vibrant ---campaign.
Next week: Dan Ashton