Sam Van Schie
Rossland News
Councillor Tim Thatcher is hoping to keep his seat for a second term.
First elected in 2011, Thatcher is quick to admit that he and the current councillor have gotten bogged down by controversy and personnel issues. But he’d like to be part of the group working to fix that.
“In this election we’re going to get a new mayor and at least four new councillors,” the 58-year-old notes. “That’s going to bring a lot of new ideas and fresh thinking — it will be a fresh start.”
Thatcher was born and raised here in Rossland, and now has children and grandchildren living here. He works at Teck and is assistant chief of Rossland Volunteer Fire Department and a ski patroller at Red Mountain.
His main priority on council is keeping taxes down, and was pleased that the city had no tax increase in 2012 and 2013. (However, an increase was required in 2014 to pay for improvements to Columbia Avenue.)
“We need to keep our city affordable for the seniors who have invested a lot of years and a lot of money in our town. We owe it to them to keep Rossland a place they can afford to live,” Thatcher says.
In the coming term, he’d like to direct more attention to working with local business owners.
“We need to have a brainstorming session with all the businesses to see what we can do to keep them vibrant and what they would expect to come into town as a new business,” he says, noting he’d be willing to bring forward new policies that would support business growth.
Thatcher hopes that Rosslanders will recognize some of the positive things council has accomplished over the past term — including the Columbia Avenue improvements and supporting Red Mountain’s snowmaking initiative — as well his the characteristics that have made him a good councillor.
“I do my research. I read all the reports and council agendas and visit properties that are requesting variances, so that I can participate in debate and make informed decisions,” he says. “I love Rossland and I always the community’s best interests at heart.”