The following are candidates' responses to the following questions: Incumbents only: With School District 43's recent difficulties, which resulted in $13.4 million in cost cutting, and a forensic audit noting lack of control and monitoring resulted in a deficit in 2012/'13, why should anyone vote for you, an incumbent who was on the board when it happened? To non-incumbents only: If you are elected, what issue would you bring to the board's attention? To all: What is your reason for running for school trustee? Also: Do you think there is enough transparency about what goes on in the school district? If not, how would you change it?
Self-employed shop owner, lives in Belcarra
Expertise to offer board: advocacy
Endorsement: CUPE
Why run: "The [public school] teachers' dispute started me thinking about what is happening with my children's education and the future of education [Once I started] following what is happening and now the massive deficit, and we're paying $2.5 million for the next five years, I can just talk and complain about these issues or I can do something about it."
What issue: "One of the big things for my area, I see lots of parents asking me about buses. [And] if they had allocated resources better, would these buses have been cut? Because of the massive deficit, that's why we are cutting these things and these support workers. My big thing is preventative measures."
Transparency: "There was a forensic audit that was performed and I think we should have monthly financial monthly reports that will be in our minutes and that will allow parents to see where the money is and where the money is spent."
