For Pitt Meadows council
• Name: Dave Murray.
• Residence: 19464 – 191B Street, Pitt Meadows.
• Occupation/education: parks service worker; attended BCIT, UBC, Everett College.
• Volunteer work: High school basketball coach, baseball coach and executive board member, soccer coach and executive board member, On to Ottawa Trek Historical Society director.
• Who do you support for mayor: n/a
Question: Please provide an example of what you have done that qualifies you for council?
Answer: As an incumbent Pitt Meadows councillor the past three years, I have been a strong voice for working people, youth, seniors, small businesses, farmers and marginalized people in our community. I have held many board of directors and executive positions the last few decades. I have held the position of secretary-treasurer of the Fraser Valley CUPE District Council. From 2010-2012, I was the treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress for the Fraser Valley Labour Council. As of 2014, I have been serving as treasurer of my own local in Port Coquitlam, CUPE 498.
Q: Who is funding your campaign?
A: CUPE, the Canadian Labour Congress and myself will be funding my campaign for 2014.
Q: What makes you stand out from other candidates?
A: One of my strengths has been strong community leadership. As important is my ability to work as a team player with other members of council and staff. I do my homework. I am a good listener. I try and bring cost savings to our citizens without cutting services. This requires a lot of effort , both from council and staff.
Q: How do you see your city developing in the next 10 years?
A: In the next 10 years we will see our seniors numbers increase by 400 per cent. We are going to have to make sure we can still provide that access ability that our current seniors love about Pitt Meadows. We will have to make sure we can lobby senior levels of government to help with the increased need for transportation infrastructure without going to our citizens and breaking the bank. At 82 per cent of commuters driving to another city or town for work, we are going to have to start doing more smart growth initiatives. Making sure we build up and not out will be the key.
Q: What will be your top priority if elected to Pitt Meadows council?
A: I think that keeping taxes at a fair and reasonable level for the next four years without cutting services or city jobs.