McConnachie Wants to “Give Back”
Now, she is hoping you will remember her on election day and select her for a seat on Prince George City Council.
“I love this city, I graduated from Kelly Road, I met my husband here, raised our family here, the city has been good to my family and now I’m in a position to give back.”
McConnachie says there has “a been a bunch of negativity” as she says the City has had fights with everyone from neighbourhoods to its own employees, as well as amongst those at the council table.
She says the trouble at City Hall is like the “Strangulation of the goose that laid the golden egg” . As an example, she points to the previous years when the “White Knights” of snow removal who had previously been recognized for their efforts and dedication to keep the streets clear saw that disappear as equipment fell to disrepair and the contract negotiations got ugly.
She says she should be described as someone who “Works really hard and keeps their eye on the prize.”
She says the “Build it and they will come” strategy is nice, but fails to address the needs of the population the City has now. She says the City needs to manage the tax base for the citizens who live here now. She says the primary goal cannot be to have more people move here, the focus should be on fiscal responsibility, and looking after the assets the City already has.
On the Performing Arts Center, she says she is a big fan of arts of culture and the value they add to the quality of life, but when it comes to the PAC, “We have to quit looking at the shiniy things, and start investing in what we already have standing” When faced with the direct question of whether or not she supports the PAC, she says “No PAC”.
McConnachie says the City has to “pull its horns back” and adds, “No more shiny things, no more build it and they will come schemes” she says she supports the “back to basics.”
When it comes to construction, she says builders build homes to sell, and perhaps the image that has been sold of a community where people can have a wood stove, large lots near nature, where they can store their toys so while it is more affordable to have more “infill” she says many people coming to Prince George have come because of the image that has been projected to them.
As for the situation downtown, she says she likes the idea of having “districts” downtown but there may be a need to centralize the social agencies in the downtown.
Comments
I’m on the fence about her. She seemed to talk a pretty good game, but there were a lot of vague generalities and statements which I felt were trying to pander to popular sentiment. I’ll have to do some more research.
Thanks again Ben for doing this!
I would have liked Ben to ask the question to Terri and others to be councillors and mayors whether the upgrade to the sewer sytem in Hart Highlands should be put out to tender. Another thing is do they feel the residents should have to pay for repaving the streets that have had nothing done to them in forty years. Streets need to be redone even if the sewer is not installed.
She’s got my vote.
Cheers
Retired 02 – in Abbotsford you will vote. Ben was kind to her compared to the next candidate – Huber. Yes, supporting more workers will benefit the CUPE coffers!
I really like this woman, smart, well spoken and willing to fight for the taxpayers. My wife and I will be voting for her!
Terri talked about taking care of the citizens that we already have. That makes sense to me as a citizen of Prince George. We are here now and our needs have to be addressed. Her idea of focus on fiscal responsibility is practical too as it hopefully will begin to address some of the looming infrastructure problems that I am hearing so much about this election. If we take care of our own first, they will spread the word and others may follow and find out what a great place we have. Terri sounds positive and practical and that is what we need.
If the vote for Councilors gets spread to thin, then only God knows who will be elected.
She’s got my vote, she sounds practical. I like the idea of no more grand schemes just getting back to basics and fixing what we have. We need a council that will work together and respect the City employees who work for all of us. Very much like that so many people have stepped up this election, it’s not easy opening up yourself to criticism that comes with running for public office so Kudos to all the candidates!
I would like to see more focus of safe healthy neighbourhoods, and council listening to the people in them. Had lunch at Red Robins sitting by the window we could see lots of people walking by with suit cases and pack sacks even in the rain , we do have a problem , maybe if P.G. was not so focused on so many social services maybe they would not be drawn here. Do not transfer the problems into residential neighbourhoods please.
Exactly bitter. The downtown is full of premium social services all within walking distance focussed on attracting clients and we wonder why we have so many homeless?
Businesses and residents don’t want anything to do with it. We screwed downtown up a long time ago. We need a time machine to fix it.
JohnnyBelt; The downtown is screwed up but it can be fixed, we just need someone with some Guts to do it, It has a lot to do with the bleeding hearts with these well paid government jobs looking after the no income people . Move the needle exchange to 1st ave, move Native Health into the PGNFC , thats where it should be . The Fire Pit should be closed down its a hang out. Quit building shelters to house people from other areas.
I like what I am hearing from Terri. I don’t know her, but she is resonating with a number issues I am concerned about. I will put my support with her. I already know how the current encumbents have done over the past 3 years. I am not afraid to change the guard.
All we need is a leader. Leaders already have followers or supporters. So, it won’t be difficult to determine the next Mayor.
Come on folks, McConnachie is one candidate and one voice on council, if she gets elected. About the only power she or any other person who gets elected to council has is to vote on motions, or to forward a motion, no power to make decisions, no power to make change.
Sorry, but Councillors and even the exalted ‘mayor’ are just members of a committee. You know what the son of Mr.Porsche said about committees:
“Committees are, by nature, timid. They are based on the premise of safety in numbers; content to survive inconspicuously, rather than take risks and move independently ahead. Without independence, without the freedom for new ideas to be tried, to fail, and to ultimately succeed, the world will not move ahead, but rather live in fear of it’s own potential.”
– Ferry Porsche
son of Ferdinand Porsche
That about describes your average group of councillors.
metalman.
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