Well, it’s advance voting day today in Campbell River at the Baptist Church on Dogwood (across from the RCMP building) til 8pm tonight. And Saturday Nov. 19th is general voting day at Discovery Passage, Phoenix, and Southgate Schools from 8am to 8pm.
If you’d like to hear more from me prior to voting, please read these articles. Thanks to both the Campbell River Mirror and the Courier Islander for the opportunities to be heard!
CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR: A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE DESIRES TO BE-RYAN MENNIE ANSWERS THREE QUESTIONS
1. I envision a community that takes care of it’s citizens equally, no matter what age. Support for our children, making sure all are ready to enter the school system, helping them become our future productive citizens in a city with less crime. I envision a thriving economy where those who want to raise their families here will have the means to do so. I envision Campbell River being a place where everyone desires to be, not a place that people come from.
2. I’m still the highly positive, motivated and community minded person I was three years ago when I was first voted in. And now I have three years of municipal government experience under my belt to help navigate the financial challenges of the 2012 budget and beyond. Every Tuesday in the council chambers I look for balance and do my best to keep perspective on behalf of the entire community. Albert Einstein sums it up best as to how to tackle the next three years and beyond: “Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.”
3. Three years ago I ran specifically to improve communication between City Hall and the community. We now have a corporate communications strategy, and staff continue to work on ways to improve their messaging and engagement. This year my word is “clarity.” Moving forward, I want you to know why something is being done. This also requires work on your part. Be prepared to listen.
Most importantly, if you need clarification, go to the source, your council. Your neighbour may have the best intentions, you may enjoy the heated discussions in the newspaper, but your council has the facts.
COURIER ISLANDER NOV. 16TH 2011 EDITION
With this being one of my last chances to talk to you prior to voting day, I’d like to sum up the last three years of work I’ve done on council and emphasize two key things to focus on in the next three.
Being elected to council in 2008 was one of the most exciting things I’ve experienced in my life. Learning what it means to be a good councillor has been mind expanding. The job itself has been very challenging and rewarding. The scope of the job and the scale of representing 32,000 citizens is immense. And my municipal education came during a global economic downturn and time of substantial change locally. But what an education! I’ve officially graduated from the school of hard knocks, and me and my young family are ready to commit to another three years of serving you.
In that time, I’ve learned that two things get you by when money is tight. Creative thinking and collaboration. This is the era of collaboration…finding partners within the community who believe in the same goals, and being creative in achieving those goals. Collaborative achievements in the last three years include the community garden, greenways loop and lacrosse box. Just wait for the next one…the spray park!
This quote from Albert Einstein has guided me on council the last three years and I will use it to guide me again. Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
Ryan Mennie stands by photos of others who have served on Campbell River city council
p.s. This photo and others used in my campaign thanks to my fantastic wife Ludy from www.menniememories.com
the Municipal Musings of Ryan Mennie 