Two old hats at the political game in Tumbler Ridge have tossed their hats in the ring for the position of mayor.
Darryl Krakowka is a currently sitting councillor with eight years’ experience on town council. For the last three and a half years, he has been acting as deputy mayor.
In a recent post on Facebook, Krakowka writes: “first let me say thank you for the opportunity you have given me to be a member of town council for the past eight years to help direct the future of our beautiful community. After many months of reflection and conversations with you the public.”
He says what the town needs now is “experience, leadership, focus and a mayor completely committed and engaged to our community. We need a leader to bring our council together, bring our staff together, and take our community in a new direction.”
He says he has gained experience working with staff as deputy mayor, conducting agenda reviews for the council meetings alongside staff. “As mayor I plan on helping our council get focused on less projects, and on projects that the overwhelming majority of us truly support and are engaged in. Quality not quantity.”
He says he looks forward to engaging with the public over the next few months in the lead up to the municipal elections. “Please reach out with any questions comments or concerns and I will do my “utmost” best, to convince you that I am the right choice for mayor of Tumbler Ridge in 2022 and beyond.”
The second declared candidate for mayor is Don McPherson. McPherson served as mayor until 2018, and sat on council for a total of 18 years before stepping down. “During the first mine closures I ran for TR council in a by-election,” says McPherson. “It was an interesting time we had the biggest debt ratio in BC and I think Canada, the houses were mostly owned by CMHC, we had lost our bank and some people wanted to move their houses out of town. Council worked very hard to solve these issues and were successful.”
He says when he stepped down in 2018, he handed over a town “that was the envy of most small towns in BC. TR was in a great financial position, a lot of the major infrastructure projects had been done, the tourism was going strong with the Geopark, and we had a town staff that in my opinion was second to none.”
But these things have been changing, he says. “That is why I’m running for Mayor as I think I have the experience to get us back on track.”
He says whoever gets into council this term is going to have a big job. “Town hall and district staff is in sad shape, from what I can tell. It is hard to know what’s going on as this latest council doesn’t let out much information. When council doesn’t keep the residents up on what’s going on it gives rise to rumours which are all over town.”
He says that people running for mayor should have at least some experience on council. “I think this last council proved me right. I don’t think the mayor knew what his job was and from the meetings I’ve seen still doesn’t. I’m not sure what the situation is with the CAO position as it is all kept secret, but I’m hoping that the present council is smart enough to leave this up to the next council as they are the ones who are going to have to work with that person.”
Current mayor Keith Bertrand has stated publicly that he is not planning on running again.
Potential candidates for mayor, council and school board have until September 9 to get their nomination packages in to town hall.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
