Congratulations to our New Mayor and Council

First of all I would like to thank all those who showed their support for my bid to return to city council. Thank you for vote. Though the result for me personally was not what I had hoped I continue to believe that men and women of good will can make good decisions. To the new council I wish you all the best over the next four years for you and your families.  Cheers Shawn Lee , considering a move to Coldstream :)

Voters can make a difference. Letter to the Morning Star

vernonmorningstar.com/opinion/letters/282136701.html#storyComments
Since my letter to the paper voice has been silenced here is link to a letter to the Morning Star.  It makes for  a good read.Cheers Shawn Lee
Remember you can vote today at City Hall. Please make me your first choice for Vernon City Council and every vote does make a difference. Thank you for your support!

A-word again in the news.

Our outgoing Mayor Sawatzky is worried that the “newly elected” may give offense to our neighbours by giving support to looking governance options. No one was particularly worried about Vernon sensitivities when the effects of micro annexations study were undertaken and recently published by the RDNO; this all at taxpayer expense. Mayor Garlick acclaimed in Coldstream feels Vernon candidates are supporting an annexation study motivated by political opportunism and “without fully thinking it through”. His comment would be more appropriate if we actually had a recent study in hand and were considering rushing the next step which would be the formulation of a referendum question to be put to people.

The local voters seem to be trusted by our politicians to express our opinion on the $70,000,000 borrowing question on the Master Water plan but not with a chance to support a look at how we are governed.

Be assured that the writer firmly believes the question of how we are governed in Greater Vernon must ultimately be put to the residents. I have held this opinion for a very long time as has our local business community. “What is good for the goose is good for the gander”. Just as the EA’s had a study of the effects of small annexations on their viability Vernon needs to look at the benefits that could accrue by conducting an amalgamation study of Greater Vernon. Let us see if there is another governance option worth pursuing. If there is, then let us put to the people.

Cheers Shawn Lee: Candidate for Vernon City Council vernonmorningstar.com/news/281967581.html

All Candidates Forum Question: Government by referendum?

The democratic system under which we live places great trust and confidence in our elected officials to make good choices and wise decisions on our behalf. It is their willing exercise of their duties that relieves us of the necessity to study every issue. Occasionally an issue is deemed so controversial or a proposed borrowing needs the assent of the electors that it requires referendum. I regard the legislation governing referendum as a safeguard for the public ensuring they are consulted on truly major issues.

If however the public were asked to vote on every issue the principles of representative democracy would be negated. I am not saying the public input should not be sought, indeed it would be folly on the part of any government not to seek public opinion but government by opinion poll would soon cease to follow an efficient course.

I have more one thing to say about the referendum process. I believe the elected officials who call such a vote should be active in its promotion or its detraction; no fence sitting and no shrugging the shoulders saying “the public will decide”. Those who are the best informed should be the loudest and most articulate in the promotion or opposition to a referendum question. The public after a careful listening to the debate can then decide the question.

I ask you to make Shawn Lee your first choice for Vernon City Council.

Cheers, Shawn Lee

Candidate for Vernon City Council

Apparently Clarification is Coming on the Master water plan and the Referendun.

I just accepted a kind invitation to attend a meeting dedicated to explaining to the candidates in the up and coming election the Master Water Plan and why the defeat of the referendum would put Greater Vernon Water in a state of non compliance with IHA. I will be attending,but note I have already attended an open house and have read the material provided.
Cheers.Remember to vote today in the advanced poll.
Shawn Lee

An uncertain sound? How to vote on the water referendum?

A recent editorial did a nice summary of the diversity of opinion among our elected officials re. the $70,000,000 Water referendum. This more than casual observer made it known very early on in the process his expectation of political champions coming forward on the pro side of the question particularly when this this same group had declined a  peer review of the plan. Now with voting on the referendum beginning even as I write we learn what they truly thought. Most do not support a yes vote. Uuh?Was the holding of the referendum premature? Vernon Councillor Spiers and Coldstream Councillors Besso and Kiss thought so.
Ordinarily, I place great confidence in the political process that permits elected men and women of good will to lead us to make good decisions. Something in this instance however appears to have gone amiss  and we are left to our own devices to decide a difficult question with only a single voice among the candidates in favor. Judging by the lack luster attendance at the GVW presentations this referendum question will be decided not from knowledge and understanding but perhaps from a gut reaction to the sheer magnitude of the borrowing contemplated or worse, anger at how our water system has evolved.
The trust we placed in our representatives appears to have been misplaced and we are left to consider the how to vote amid the smokes and mirrors of political games supposedly played on our behalf at the regional table.
I disagree which Mr Rolke  that outcome of the water referendum is uncertain. It is almost a sure thing. Almost certainly when faced with an " uncertain sound" the public will choose what is naturally perceived as the safest course and vote no. If that turns out to be the case it will be up to the newly elected to pick up the pieces and  get it right the next time. Perhaps the rules of the game will be different with new faces at the table and new options will come available.
Remember the advance polling for the Municipal election is available at the Shubert Center today. Please make Shawn Lee your first choice for Vernon City Council.
Thank you for your support,
Shawn Lee
A Candidate for Vernon City Council.
bclocalnews.com/opinion/281499931.html

All Candidates Forum Question: Why doesn't Vernon have more public development on Lake Okanagan?

Vernon does have a water front plan for Lake Okanagan. However, the lots received by the City of Vernon in trade for the loss of sole ownership and control of Kal Beach are not contiguous. The disjointed nature of the city owned lake shore lots will ultimately delay the implementation of Vernon’s waterfront neighborhood plan. This is made even more regrettable because apparently a recent opportunity to acquire more lake shore property was missed. Vernon’s ultimate treatment of this neighborhood would ideally involve the Okanagan Indian band because of the strip of reserve land that borders the beach.  

Our City would benefit greatly by making some public development of our lake shore a priority.

Cheers, Shawn Lee

A Candidate for Vernon City Council