24 - Sunday, June 3, 1990 - North Shore News AN INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR MARILYN BAKER EIGHT YEARS is more than enough time for most politicians to rack up a life- time’s worth of enemies. By EVELYN JACOB News Reporter But having spoken to people both in and out of politics, it was difficult to come up with a single person who didn’t respect Marilyn Baker. And that poil (entirely unscien- tific) was taken after eight years of tough decision-making by the North Vancouver District mayor. “I've gotten really ticked off with Marilyn, but I have a healthy respect for her,”’ says long-time colleague North Vancouver District Ald. Joan Gadsby. Baker was a community activist long before she entered municipal politics in 1976. She got her feet wet in the early °70s with the Seymour Ratepayer’s Association over concern about growth in the area, She petitioned for improved roads and pushed for increased day-care facilities. Today Baker has become such a cornerstone of the community that people are wondering who will be able to fill her shoes when she steps down as mayor at the end of the year. “I think that it’s generally ac- knowledged that Marilyn Baker is a hard worker. She’s dynamic, a good speaker and very intelligent, says North Vancouver District Ald. Ernie Crist, who has known Baker for 18 years. Baker, who says she didn’t have a ‘*burning passion’’ for politics when she joined council as an alderman in 1976, should have had her seven-year itch one year ago. o CARING EXPERIENCED STAFF * BNs ' * LPNs & Aides %* Homemakers * Live-ins? | 24 HOURS A DAY AFFLUENCE INFLUENCE The lady’s not for spurning NEWS photo Nell Lucente MAYOR MARILYN Baker discusses municipal business with assitant-manager Fred Sugurjonsson. But she’s been so busy leading the municipality that she lost track of the time. She even forgot how old she was during a recent interview. “I’m 45,’" she pronounces con- fidently, but then is suddenly silent. ‘‘Just a minute now,’’ she - says, doing a quick calculation in her head. ‘‘No, I’m 46. I was born in 1943. Oh my goodness,”’ she ut- ters, breaking into an infectious laugh. Baker was the first woman to be elected mayor in the history of North Vancouver District politics. It may still be a man’s world when it comes to government, but Baker says she has never found her gender to be a political impedi- ment. “7’ve never had any difficulty. Maybe earlier on...15 years ago cr more I can remember someone eyeglass shop the 925-1522 C-4348 marine drive west vancouver suggesting why was I questioning certain figures, that’s what we have accountants for, and I can remember someone else asking why was I questioning the engineers and architects about where they were going to put a cer- tain building because that’s what we have professionals for. But I also had people saying they were sorry for saying that. If you do your homework and present your facts you expect to be treated in the same respectful manner. ‘*] find my manner of dealing with things is to ask questions and to get answers and to go into some detail if I feel the issue warrants it. And there might be frustration on JUNE 4th to JUNE 10th SAVE *13° Receive $13.00 OFF a Tune-Up, with this coupon. Prices apply to most cars. $5944 PLUS TAX SG 466 PLUS TAX $6988 PLUS TAX fe GUARANTEED FOR 4 MONTHS or 6500 KILOMETERS (Prices apply to most vehicies) the part of some, no matter if you’re a man or a woman, if you take that tack of questioning and requiring answers, But your gender has nothing to do with it.”’ And it certainly hasn’t been a stumbling block to success. Her ‘‘get the job done’’ mentali- ty and imposing persona! aura have led to rumors of her entering provincial politics, most likely the Socred fold. But she’s coy when pressed on her future political aspirations. “I’m looking at a number of options. There’s no question that over the years anybody in loca! politics is usually approached to run provincially or federally and Includes: $46“ t PLUS TAX $ 66 91 TAX & $56° PLUS TAX Brake Fluid includes: ke @ Canada Oil FRONT BRAKES * New Pads © Turning Rotors $ e Repac«ing Wheel Bearings * Topping Up Brake Fluid. ¢ Checking Calipers & Hoses BACK BRAKES @ New Shoes « Checking °B. Cables ¢ Turning Orums © Checking Springs * Topping Up “ “Complete Lube, OH «| & Filter Service ; | © 4,55 Litres Petro a° Lubncate to Manutact- urer’s Specifications 4B» Replace On Filter ancl the cost of filter) © Test the Ant Freeze © Check Power Steering I'm no different in that regard...but I’ve made no com- mitments or decisions. I’ve looked at provincial politics...1 certainly find that interesting. But whether or not that turns out to be in the form of an elected politician at the provincial level, f don’t know. Maybe it’s time to go sailing again.’’ (Baker embarked on a two-year sailing trip to Europe in 1979). The latest rumor is that she plans to go after Angus Ree’s seat in the new provincial Lonsdale riding if Ree decides against runn- ing again. Says North Vancouver City Mayor Jack Loucks, ‘‘She’s in- dicated to me that she can make a contribution at the provincial level.”* But Baker is keeping mum on the issue. At least for now. One thing that most seem to agree upon when discussing the North Vancouver mayor: she’s ex- tremely ambiticus. While that zeal has helped push her up the political ladder, Crist sees it as her major flaw. **She’s basically a political op- portunist. She doesn’t fight for the common man and never will. She belongs to the establishment and she will fight for the establishment. Marilyn Baker is not without compassion, but she can’t ally herself with the grassroots peo- ple,”’ says Crist. But Loucks and others who know her disagree. **1 think she listens to the con- cerns of all people, she certainly has a good record on that. If any- thing, she'll listen to the common man more than she would some big developer,’’ he says. While Baker’s political future may be uncertain, as one North Vancouver District alderman put it, ‘‘She’s certainly a lady I'l never 4 WHEEL BRAKE PACKAGE 99” MOST CARS * Metallic Pads £20.00! 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