Age/occupation: 59, banker
The last few years have been busy for members of the Coquitlam Public Library board, who have overseen a major expansion of the service with the opening of the new City Centre branch. As chair of the board, Jack Trumley has had a front-row seat to the changes and now hopes to take some of his experience to the city council table.
The 59-year-old has overseen the organization's $5-million operating budget and believes he can find savings in the municipal financial plan.
"We managed to keep our budget flat," Trumley said of his time as library board chair. "If you focus on a documented plan... there is no reason we can't do it [at city hall]."
Inflationary and labour costs, which rise every year, can be mitigated, he claims, by focusing on the most important services the city provides.
Trumley, who is running with the five-person Protect Coquitlam slate, said as a councillor his biggest job would be communicating with residents and relaying their concerns to the city.
One area where council needs to be particularly attentive, he said, is the development issues surrounding the Evergreen Line. While he supports policies that increase density and promote affordable housing, council needs to ensure that it is being done in a way that works for the neighbourhoods that are affected.
"Once the developers are gone, it is then a community," he said. "We need to have a constant conversation with that community... and advocate for those citizens."
