Community volunteer and longtime Alberni Valley resident Rosalind Chapman will seek a spot on city council in the upcoming October 2018 election.
“I believe Port Alberni can do better,” Chapman said in a press release. “Neighbouring cities like Courtenay and Campbell River continue to attract businesses and people, yet Port Alberni’s economy and growth remain stagnant.”
“Without a robust and diverse economy, Port Alberni can’t adequately deal with the housing, crime, and poverty issues the city is currently facing, or build amenities and infrastructure that are desperately needed. Taxpayers are tapped out and fed up,” she said.
Chapman said if she is elected she will focus on the local economy “and how we can better promote jobs and livability that will bring people—and prosperity—back to Port Alberni. We need to shift the focus from the past to the future, something that the current council has been unwilling to do.
“Port Alberni urgently needs a community strategy that will focus on what is best for residents, and how to make Port Alberni an appealing place to live. Residents need to know that their council is working in their best interests, and not for outside corporations.”
Chapman is a retired provincial government adjudicator. She is currently chair of the Food Security and Climate Disruption Committee for the City of Port Alberni, and is also the newly elected chair of the Bread of Life Society.
She is a passionate advocate for enhancing Port Alberni’s waterfront, which she calls “a priceless resource that should be developed for the benefit of residents and visitors.”
Chapman said the local economy and economic development will be focal points in her campaign.