IF you’ve ever donated
monty to a politician’s
election campaign,
you're part of a pitifully
small minority,
Int tact, the general public

maintains « general disdain for

olitics and politicians, mak
ing ita daunting task for most

cople even to consider offer-
ing themselves for public ser-

8 vice. In order to raise the nee-

+, essary funds to run a
respectable campaign, a pollti-
cal candidate looks first to his
or her personal and family
resources, then to friends and
* individual supporters, But

unless the candidate is inde-

: pendently wealthy, a local

© celebrity, or a member of an
“exceptionally large family,

* that’s probably insufficient.

"| Most likely, fundraising
will be required from a wide
range of organizations,
including prominent business-
“es in the community,

i” AS a consequence, corpo-
rate donations to political
canipaigas are both necessary

and desirable, The Costs asso.

: ciated with running .an elec-
tion campaign today would

“be prohibitive without sup-

«port fron the business com: '

* munity, Even the labour-

backed NDP understands this

fact of pola me, and

Complete rad flush
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All services fully warranty approved

Q, What Do People”
“ Born in-1926; 1927

" . and:1928.t

,an. RRSP’ Maturity
Option Before

ee avid

a second
opinion

they've now changed their
previous practice of refusing
to accept donations from the
business sector,

Thankfully, we have a
number of good corporate
citizens in our community
who are prepared to help
make the democratic process
work, Otherwise, we'd end

"up with a system where only

individuals with private for-
tunes could afford to run for
public office. And I believe
that would be both unrepre-
sentative and unhealthy.

Last week in this space |
discussed the current megas-
tore controversy in West
Vancouver, where a proposed

modification and expansion of

the Park Royal shopping cen-
tre has provoked a negative
reaction on the North Shore,
Yet, in spite ofa lively
campaign spearheaded by’
community activists and local
retailers, the opposition is
tinged by a degree of fitalism.

NR (8
, "1362 Marine Drive 980-9115}
g Open 7 days a week Mon-Sat 8: 00am-6: ‘00pm, Sun,

9:00am-5:00pm
Rupes August 117

Why? Because some West
Vancouverites apparently
believe that Laren
Investments Ltd, the owner
of Park Royal, will easily ger
its way and that their elected
council simply won't stand up
to the darge corporation. |
After reviewtag Larca’s
finanedal contributions to can-
didites for West Vancouver
Council, | suggested that
readers should make up their
own minds on the matter.
And, judging by the feedback
Tve received, a number of
you do have | very strong views
— not only on Park Royal's
expansion plans, but also on
the subject of corporate dona-
tions to election campaigns.
For the record, | don’t
believe there's anything
wrong with Larco, or indeed
any other company, con-
ributing to the electioneering
efforts of local politicians,

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December 31, 1997. In fact, if you are 65
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® Your income requirements to
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@ Managing your investments
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“@ Ways to receive retirement income
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Such companies should be
commended for their open
involvement in the democratic
process,

Neither do J believe iv’s
wrong for candidates to
accept donations from good
corporate citizens — and |
believe that Larco makes a
special effort to fit into that
category,

Indeed, it’s ludicrous to
imagine that an elected coun
cillor’s good judgment could
be compromised by a contri-
bution of $500 or $1,000,

‘The good news is that we
now have open disclosure of
all campaign contributions,
not ony for federal and
srovineal elections, but local-
y as well,

And this new transparency
in our municipal politics
allows all citizens to know

exactly what sources of finan-
cial support our local council-

; ma
alan MacMurchie
Sales Consultant

Friday, August 15, 1997 - North: Shore News - 7

= Political popularity is only skin deep

lors rely tipon. And that sure

beats the had old days, when
unscruptilous developers

would secretly offer outright
bribes te municipal politi
clans,

Ifanyone doubts this, I'd
recommend a good buok:
former West Vancouver
Mayor Derrick Humphreys’
very readable memoir, ‘The
Making of A Grey Panther,

Fortunately, most of the
influence on local polities

today is above board and rela-

tively easy to measure, For
instance, Larco’s contribu-
tions to municipal candidates
are fully disclosed, and Pd
expect the company is justifi-
ably proud ofits record of
supporting candidates for
elected office,

Is there a conflict if mem-
bers of West Vancouver
Council who have received
campaign contributions from

Larco are then called upon to
pass judgment on the merits
of the proposed Park Royal
expansion? ‘Technically, no,
Rut an apparent conlict of
interese is more difficult to
measure and ver subjective,
Like beaury, it's in the eye of
the beholder,

Under such circumstances,
prudent politicians will redou-
ble their efforts to ensure that
all processes and decisions are
fair, open aud honest, After
all, community criticism stings
and political popularity can be
very fleeting, Like beauty, it’s
sometimes only skin deep.

— ‘the North Shove News
befieves strongly in freedom of
speech and the right of all sides
inn debate to be heard, The
columnists published in the
News present differing points
of view, but those pigs are not
necessarily those of the newspn-
per itself. ;

Much has been written in recent years about
the lack of affordable farnily sedans. $25, 000 for
a basic sedan is simply too much for many
families. The Dodge Stratus on the other hand
represents the affordable family car. No other
vehicle comes close to the comfort, safety,
performance and luxury offered by Stratus. At
only $20,000, it has no competition.

Loaded with power windows & locks, air conditioning

“for $

and much, much more.

* ‘or
an
tax

g Based on 30 mo. sub-vented lease in lieu of RDA with $2760 down, TP, $11,070 + Taxes 0.A.C.
** 30 month single pay lease - net of RDA