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?
Entrepreneur, lives in Port Coquitlam
Expertise to offer board: knowledge of education system
Endorsements: none
Why run: "I think school boards are about stewardship and oversight, and I think in general across the province, we need to strengthen the makeup of school boards with people who understand the system and have financial expertise. We need to raise the bar as to who's running these large organizations."
What issue: "Coquitlam is the only district within the province that doesn't belong to the municipal pension plan and now there is an unfunded liability of about $30 million, and it could be a problem. I think they need an exit strategy there. If you can spread that risk throughout the whole province, it's better than one district dealing with $30 million."
Transparency: "I think people live very busy lives and don't know or care unless there's a problem. That's the reality. A lot of it [information] is available, SOFI [Statement of Financial Information] reports are there for you to read. A lot of it is managing perception [and] public engagement."
Website: liamcoughlan.ca
