Close to winning four years ago, Victor Cumming hopes to land the mayor91裸聊视频檚 job in Vernon this time around.
Cumming, 63, an economist and volunteer, finished second to Akbal Mund by only 625 votes in the 2014 municipal election. He has announced he is again throwing his hat into the ring for the Oct. 20 vote.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 my passion for working on integrated community development, that91裸聊视频檚 my profession, that91裸聊视频檚 my practice and I want to focus on my own region and community,91裸聊视频� said Cumming on his decision to seek election.
91裸聊视频淢any others strongly encouraged me to run again, based on what they see as my demonstrated skill set. It91裸聊视频檚 about doing locally what I91裸聊视频檝e done regionally, provincially and across Canada.91裸聊视频�
Born in Golden and raised in Naramata, Cumming holds a bachelor of arts degree in economics and geography, and a master of arts in rural planning and development. He has taught economic development for Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, and his consulting firm provides economic development, planning and operation assistance to local, regional and First Nations governments across Canada.
In 2014, Cumming91裸聊视频檚 platform talked about how Vernon91裸聊视频檚 diverse economy is a positive and how he wants to come up with new approaches to address the infrastructure deficit in Vernon.
91裸聊视频淭his time, I91裸聊视频檓 more focused on attainable housing,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a really critical issue. If you91裸聊视频檙e in the top 40 per cent, housing isn91裸聊视频檛 an issue. If you91裸聊视频檙e in the bottom 60 per cent, yeh, it91裸聊视频檚 an issue. Safety is another big issue, I don91裸聊视频檛 need to say much more than that. It91裸聊视频檚 been on the front pages. Community safety is an issue that has really accelerated in the last three or four years.
91裸聊视频淏usiness and economic development continue to be really significant and will be in the next three years, particularly with a dramatically changing international environment. Infrastructure continues to be key. The city is putting significant efforts into restoring old infrastructure and there91裸聊视频檚 infrastructure that needs to be fixed that91裸聊视频檚 not operating well.91裸聊视频�
Cumming said he was an unknown entity in the 2014 race but still finished second behind a more well-known candidate in Mund. Being so close then, along with plenty of encouragement now, convinced Cumming to take another crack at the mayor91裸聊视频檚 chair.
91裸聊视频淔our years ago, if I91裸聊视频檇 been way back it would have been an indicator to let this idea go,91裸聊视频� said Cumming. 91裸聊视频淚 was a new face when I ran four years ago. I came from relatively unknown to doing well with someone like Akbal who is extremely well known.91裸聊视频�
Candidates for mayor and council will again be running for four-year terms in the October vote. Cumming said that91裸聊视频檚 not a problem for him.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 now 63, at the end of my career, and this would signal a shift,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 the right time for me. Doing the mayor thing is a full-time job, I recognize that and will give it that respect.91裸聊视频�
Mund has not publicly declared if he plans to seek re-election in October. Former Mayor Wayne Lippert and painter Art Gourley have declared their intentions to run for mayor.
