Mayor Dooley seriously considers run for RDCK chair
By Nelson Daily Editor
By Timothy Schafer, the Nelson Daily
The new regional district chair could be coming from Nelson.
Nelson Mayor John Dooley is seriously considering letting his name stand for the vacant Regional District of Central Kootenay chair of the board of directors, he confirmed Monday afternoon.
Nominations have now opened in the wake of current chair Gary Wright’s announcement that he will be retiring from politics — and as long-time mayor of New Denver — and Mayor Dooley’s name has surfaced.
Although he hasn’t put his name in officially, nor has anyone else, he has been approached by a number of the directors on the board to put his name in for the position.
Mayor Dooley said he is weighing how the new title — in addition to mayor of Nelson and as a director on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities board — could impact his commitment to the people of Nelson.
“Decisions made at the regional district level can have a huge impact on the municipality of Nelson as well,” he said. “They are (complimentary) in many ways.”
He said the draft solid waste management plan was one example of a region-wide initiative that could greatly affect Nelson, one that was in need of some direction to be moved ahead.
One of the major proponents of getting that issue back on the regional district table after being a political football for years was Mayor Dooley, and he wanted to see it come to fruition.
With his nearly 10 years in politics, Mayor Dooley felt he was in a position with his contacts with the provincial and federal governments that he could help the regional district.
“Part of our success in the last few years in Nelson has been our ability to work with senior levels of government and find partnerships,” he said. “And I think that is an area that I can help the regional district board on. There are a few doors there that I could open.”
It is believed the regional district board director from Slocan, Hillary Elliott, is also going to be throwing her name into the mix.
The vote for chair of the board will take place on Dec. 8.
editor@thenelsondaily.com
