Anna-Louise Pentland Contributing Writer IN a marathon session last Wednesday night, the 13 candidates run- ning for the six council positions in West Vancouver faced off. Ken Block said he wants to be an ombudsman between residents and the municipal staff member that provide the service. He wants a quarterly newsletter to go out fe rach resi- dence with reports from each director, manager and counciflor outlining their pra- posed activi- ties and associated costs. He said he wants to be on the job full-time to provide hands-on supervision co the. 15 direc- ters and managers.at city hall. Liz Byrd is seeking a sec-: ‘ond term on council. She said during cher, time on she: consulted with the public and. pointed) ro. ; the Recreation ‘Facilities, Master - Plan: as a good example. Other stated Byrd priorities - are more . long-range - plan- ning, an arts:centre, 2 recre- ‘ation centre,’ moving . the Nanaimo ferries, away. trom: . Horseshoe Bay and fiscal con- servatisni.: wept : John Clark'said,: “There is. only one real issue for you te consider — the philosophy: ‘This offer is not applicable to Ski Wee & Wee Riders Camps. Discount not applicable with any other offer. _ council. and management style of the mavor and council.” He said) when coun! received the Cuff Report they “shor the messenger” and last summer council hired an events planner “with no events to plain.” He criticized the council: lors’ handling of the fire departmer’s request for more modern fire trucks and noted the city has been turned down by rwo municipal managers. He said the coun- cil should be policy makers, not micro- managers. When asked whether he thought the Nanaimo fer- ries should be removed from Horseshoe Bay he said, “I honestly don’t know,” citing the possible impact on small bu ‘ Clark supports ga tunnel under the Burrard Inlet as a third crossing. Victor Durman is also seeking a second term. He pointed te the accom-: plishments of. the. current council. When he first took office, he said the council] was faced with -a meaningless: ‘financial system, outdated: . bylaws and a nonexistent con- . sultation process. He said’ council was faced with a, $3- million deficit, which they ‘eliminated through efficien- - cies and not by raising waxes or cutting services significant- ly. Gail Durman supports a Reereation Master Plan and a housing policy for empty nesters and seniors. When asked whether he would support a third cross: ing, Derman said a provincial study showed that there is net sufficient trattic How to pay tor the tunnel right now. “Obvioushy a third cross: ing is a gerd ideas” he said. “Bur oa third crossing at any cost is nota good idea.” Durman proposed to council that it seek an injune- tion against the province to widen the causeway, Wednesday, November 17, 1999 - North Shore News - 19 idates Jean Ferguson said her 13 years on the school board, which js not allowed to rua deticir, shows she can balance a budget. Her platform includes developing a better consultation process, creating a community vision, main: nining and renewing facilities and infrastructure, more effective public transporta- tien and a strategic plain. She said: she wants to develop a better process to inform and consult with citizens. Ken) Haveock said he wants more planning and less reactive responses from coun- ya % debate cil, His priorities are develop- ment of infrastructure, espe- cially for recreation: stopping the BC Ferries development at Horseshoe Bayy che "con: tinuing challenges” of the bridge: oa) comprehensive review of the official commu- nity plan, the integration of municipal and school district services and increased accountability, He would put in place a full review of the official community plan. The linchpin of Stephen Hynes’ plattorm is direct democracy, an uprtion that would give residents a vote on various issucs by referen- da. “We vore every tree vears based on politicians and vague promises, E want te put the power into vour hands,” Hynes said. But he said his plactorny is broader than that. Other key issues are increasing rental housing for seniors and youth, menthly televised council mectings to answer questions from the public, an electronic municipal newsiet- ter, implementing leading 7 See Candidates page 24 For North Vancouver Schoo! Board 1 re Register now as space is limited. Call Guest Services at!