Could a person who lives in Kamloops do a better job of representing the Blue River-Avola area than a person who lives in Blue River?
That was the question voters faced during an election forum held Thursday evening in the Blue River Community Hall.
Max Lentz, a Kamloops resident who was Thompson-Nicola Regional District director for Thompson Headwaters (Area B) until he lost his seat three years ago, was trying to convince forum participants that he should get his job back.
Willow MacDonald, the Blue River resident who defeated Lentz in 2011, worked hard to convince those present that she should continue as their TNRD director.
“Three years ago I stood in this very room and asked for your support,” MacDonald said. “I feel proud to serve as your director.”
Although just in her first term, MacDonald was elected vice-chair of the TNRD, something that would indicate she has the respect of her peers.
She’s also been chosen to serve on the boards of Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA).
“When I go places to work on those boards, I bring Blue River and the North Thompson with me,” she said. “I don’t think it takes away from my job.”
For achievements, she pointed to $100,000 in gas tax funding she’s brought into Blue River and Avola, as well as another $90,000 to be spent on Lake Eleanor Park.
When the Mud Lake railroad crossing was closed last winter because of a snowmobiling incident, she helped get it re-opened and declared a public crossing.
She’s improved the transit bus situation so more people can get into Clearwater and Kamloops.
MacDonald is also working to improve the RCMP coverage in the area.
Max Lentz said he brought experience in business and government to the job. He felt he had done a good job during his earlier term as TNRD director and wanted to do the same again.
Cellphone coverage and high speed internet were two of his accomplishments while director, he said.
He wasn’t interested in running for office in Kamloops because he preferred to work in small communities.
Several local businesses had encouraged him to run, he said, and he had worked with at least three companies to bring new business to the community.
Bill Karas of Glacier Mountain Lodge asked why Lentz, before his first term, had said he would not be asking the regional district to reimburse his expenses but, once elected, had asked to be reimbursed.
Lentz replied that, when he had first run, he had not appreciated how expensive it would be to drive back and forth to Blue River constantly. The regional district has money budgeted for travel but he ended up having to pay his expenses out of his own pocket.
River Safari owner Russ Critchlow asked why Lentz had not mentioned tourism when he was talking about economic opportunities.
Lentz said it had been because he had run out of time. He pointed out that he had brought in an MBA student who had written a thesis on the opportunities in the area.
