Wes endorses Jakubeit
Dear Editor: Advance voting begins soon in the Penticton municipal election. This is your chance to choose the leaders of our community for the next four years. I believe the best choice for mayor is Andrew Jakubeit.
Over the past three years on Council I have had the pleasure of working with Andrew and have always found him hard working, dedicated and calm under pressure. In particular he has done an excellent job building relationships with some big players in the hockey community to help bring the Canucks Young Stars tournament to Penticton. The success of this event is a testament to Andrew's professionalism and business acumen. Penticton would be well served to have someone with his talents leading our city.
Over the past three years our city retired more than $10-million worth of debt. We saw at least $142 -million of private building investment in our community. We strengthened ties with the PIB and West Bench through service agreements. We sought widespread public input and began rebuilding our Okanagan Lake waterfront and revitalizing our downtown. We received awards for supporting business and improving environmental sustainability. We secured a flight to Calgary on WestJet. We negotiated a new deal with Global Spectrum to operate the SOEC that will save us hundreds of thousands of dollars. And we secured labour peace with two unions to keep costs under control and still provide fair wages to workers.
And all of this happened while limiting property tax increases to an average of less than one per cent per year.
Some in our city and even around the Council table, who unfortunately find any excuse to say “no”, fought these accomplishments every step of the way. Our community succeeded despite them.
I believe this success was the result of forward thinking, professional leadership on Council and at City Hall. I firmly believe Andrew is the candidate who will continue this leadership as mayor.
Simply put we have come too far to turn back now.
Will you turn our city over to those with narrow minds and even narrower visions? Will you let the cranks and curmudgeons control our community for the next four years?
Or will you stand up and choose leaders who will build on what we have achieved together?
To those who supported me and the modern vision we shared for Penticton three years ago, I ask you to support Andrew Jakubeit for mayor. Wes Hopkin
Penticton