On Oct. 20, Prince George residents will pick one mayor, eight councillors and seven school trustees. The ballot will have two mayoral candidates, 13 councillor candidates and 11 school trustee candidates. There are also 15 candidates running in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.
PrinceGeorgeMatters has sent out a list of questions to those vying for a seat in public office.
Name: Lara Beckett
Running for: Director, District of Fraser-Fort George (Electoral Area C)
Number of years lived in Prince George: 22
Current neighbourhood: Chilako
Occupation: Director, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George
Reason community would recognize your name: As the regional district director
What is the most important issue facing your electoral area, and how do you propose to deal with it?
Emergency preparedness: encourage property owners to fire smart their own property, and be prepared to shelter in place or evacuate if needed. Continue working with other agencies to address fire risk on crown lands.
What is your specific reason for running?
I love working at the community level, the services local government provides are direct and immediate to people’s lives. I want to help build neighbourhoods that are sustainable, healthy and resilient, places our children will want to live in and contribute to.
Where can the RDFFG spend less?
Services the regional district provides are either requested by the community via a vote, or the province has required them. The budgets are based on providing the service.
Where should the RDFFG be investing more?
When, or if, voters request increased service, or new services, then the regional district can invest more.
What new business or feature would you like to see in your electoral area?
Increased care of the natural environment to maintain and enhance what we love about living in a rural area.
Next time you’re walking in the woods and you come face to face with a Sasquatch, what do you do?
Give her directions to the Forbidden Forest.
If the next RDFFG board does something film-worthy, who would play you in the film?
Hermione Granger
Complete the sentence...
When I’m not at home or at work, you can find me:...at a Quidditch game with my family.
The most random, yet interesting fact about me is: I enjoy spending time with my teenagers.
My favourite beverage is: Pumpkin juice
For Christmas/Hanukkah/the gift-giving season, I would like:...all of my family home.
The best park in/near to Prince George is: Any with alpine flowers.
If Prince George didn’t exist, I’d be living in: Chilako!
When I need some pump-up music, I listen to: The Weird Sisters
