I married in Alaska to Melannie Vockeroth while working for National Bank of Alaska in 1995. While in Alaska I earned an BBA in Economics.
We returned to Canada, (Rossland) in 1995 and I worked for Community Futures of Greater Trail in Economic Development.
From 1995 until 2004, Mel and I worked on having three girls. Bella, Maddy and Denomie.
In 2005, I changed careers from the CFDC to Redstone resort.For nine years I had told people they should take risk and start their own business so I thought is was time I took my own advice. Doing business in Rossland is exciting, challenging and the best decision I ever made. I have volunteered coaching minor hockey and junior hockey in the West Kootenay since my return to Canada.
Hockey is a great sport to teach young people self discipline and the value of team work. I am currently coaching a regional girls team as well as volunteering at the RSS hockey Academy. I think you can judge a person on what they do rather what they say. I believe that action is more important than idle thought.
So my profile and platform are simple and action orientated. I believe that the City needs to do a great job on core services. As a council, we need to set policy based on our Official Community Plan and the vision Rossland residents have given. We then need to allow the people in Planning, Public Works and Administration to carry that plan out with a set budget. I have a keen interest in ensuring that Rossland residents get the best deal for the taxes they pay the City.
The City needs to take care of primary services first. Water, sewer, storm sewer and roads are primary services that must be upgraded and maintained to ensure long term viability. I am for sustainable growth.
For that to happen, Rossland needs to be competitive with its neighbours on taxes and regulation. With a background in land development some may believe that I would be for uncontrolled development. That could not be further from the truth. I love the fact that I can walk into the local grocery store and talk to twenty people that I know. Where ever I am in Rossland I have a strong feeling of being home. With that kind of feeling I can tell you that I don’t want that part to change. But we need more people, more kids in school, more businesses downtown and many more home based businesses. Council can set policy that will encourage sustainable growth and I am for ensuring that it does just that.