Age/occupation: 48, city councillor and small business owner
Bonita Zarrillo sums up her reasons for running in the Coquitlam civic election with four campaign points: affordability, jobs, public safety and the environment.
On affordability, Zarrillo said that the city needs to do more to encourage more housing choice, encouraging developers to produce townhouses and smaller condos along with single-family homes that are more common throughout the city.
While Coquitlam is pursuing an affordable housing strategy, she believes council is not moving fast enough on the file and that often plans are developed without any follow through.
The city can be doing more to support local business, she said, noting that she has pushed for a local procurement policy at the council table. If the municipal government contracted with companies that are based closer to home, it would encourage local entrepreneurs, she said.
Zarrillo, who is running with the five-person Protect Coquitlam slate, said she wants to see more businesses locate in the municipality. If the city had more employers, she added, the tax base would be broadened, benefiting both residents and businesses.
Overall, Zarrillo believes that the development surrounding the future Evergreen Line stations has been moving in the right direction but believes more focus needs to be given to the Burquitlam area neighbourhood.
"We have been very City Centre-centric," she said. "I would like to see a little more attention go over to Burquitlam."
