A semi-retired Turner Valley man hoping to fill the vacant seat on Town council says he’s focusing his campaign on enhancing public engagement, tourism and business success.
Richard Brotherston, who has an extensive background in business, said he’s spent the first part of his campaign going door-to-door to local businesses and speaking with merchants.
Brotherston said many business leaders he’s spoken to had expressed concerns about running into “red tape” or receiving untimely or no responses from town administration when attempting to tackle specific projects.
“From the business leaders standpoint they’ve tried to approach town administration and town administration is not returning their phone calls,” said Brotherston in an interview last week. “We need to ensure there is dialogue going on in a timely fashion.”
If elected, Brotherston said he will work towards improving public engagement with council beyond the question and answer period at council meetings.
“I really want to be able to take it full circle and have town council meeting with the general public, getting their ideas, taking that to town administration, having town administration get back to council and council making decisions based on what the residents want,” he said. “You hear everyone voicing their opinions in that banter in coffee shops and online, but it’s not being focused into the proper channels. I’m inviting that discussion to happen so council can better understand how to direct administration to work and find resolutions to their concerns.”
Brotherston said he would like to see quarterly open houses held, where taxpayers will have the opportunity to “air their issues.” While aware that this type of decision requires the majority of council to be on board, Brotherston said he’s confident he would gain their support if elected.
“I’ve been to town council meetings and I’ve seen the personalities and I think there are a number of existing councilors that are of a like mind,” he said.
With an extensive background in tourism, Brotherston said he sees great potential for Turner Valley to become a tourist destination.
“We’ve got a distillery, the Chuckwagon (Café), the hotel and the Turner Valley Gas Plant, which is now marked as a historical site,” he said. “I would like to see the town do an active marketing campaign.
“In order to do that you have to have something that will draw businesses into town. There needs to be a voice for businesses beyond just direct contact with council and town administration.”
Brotherston said that can be achieved by getting Chambers of Commerce to work together on a regional level.
“Allowing a co-operative Chamber of Commerce would help not only give Turner Valley businesses a voice, but Black Diamond and Longview as well,” he said. “I think the timing is right because businesses need a voice in this economy.
“Even going forward, if the chamber can show results in helping businesses through this economic downturn hopefully it can continue beyond that.”
With the election just weeks away, Brotherston said he plans to spend as much time as he can getting out into the community and doing more self education.
“I would like to present more of the details that I find in the second forum and leading into election,” he said.
Anyone interested in learning more or talking with Richard Brotherston can contact him at [email protected] or Facebook/Richard.brotherston.56
Voting takes place April 8 at Turner Valley’s council chambers from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with advance polls on March 26 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
