Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This profile is for Mitchell Forest, who is a candidate running for 2015 Fire Board Trustee Election.
Here's a bit about Mitchell;
I purchased land on Salt Spring in 2002 and we built a home here with the plan of creating a homestead type existence. Farming and producing our own foods was our goal. It has taken hard work to get there and today we are pleased to be producing organically grown hops that are used by Salt Spring brewery as well as produce for ourselves. Each year we add to our crop selection, this year barley is sprouting nicely. Our bread is made with wheat we have grown and milled.
Over the years we have made friends with the many trade people and merchants we use helping us reach our goals. I very much respect their skills, hard work ethics and knowledge. It has been long enough that we have been at it that at times i am the one giving a new islander tips on how to!
What brought you to Salt Spring Island?
My wife and I came to a B&B here. Our time here was magical, the island and people we spoke to made us feel at home and being the spontaneous person I can be, that week while we were here I found a fabulous piece of property for sale and put a bid on it. I saw the potential for a small farm and a great new chapter in our lives.
What one thing about Salt Spring would you tell someone who has never visited the island?
Salt Spring is filled with amazing examples of what nature can do. We have deep forests....a valley with fertile farmland....shore front both rocky and sandy...swimable lakes...working Salt Spring offers something to everyone. It is a real community. There are farms scattered about...verdant moss covered hiking trails..a town just the right size and people who live here that never cease to amaze me. Their kindness and old fashioned family values are not found easily elsewhere. Genius can be discovered talking to long time islanders who have amazing life experience smarts or speaking to one of the implants here. The island is chock full of talented artists. Let me add that speaking to the children and young adults here I am impressed with their individuality, openness and talent. Parents and schools have done a great job.
If you had a magic Salt Spring wand, what island thing would you change?
I would enjoy seeing the different factions here listen to each other and cease the "us and them" bickering and tend to the needs of the island.
Which well known person, living or dead, do you think would be a good addition to the island?
Since Robert Frost is one of my favorite poets it would be great to see what Salt Spring could do for his poetic imagination.
Which elected position are you seeking?
Fire District Trustee
Why should Salt Springers vote for you?
I love working on our property and hate to tear myself away, so I wont commit to doing something unless it really means a lot to me and I am willing to do it well.The one area in our community where I know I can make a difference is in the fire service. My name may not register with many people, but they may recall having seen it in connection with a flyer that went out before the Fire Hall referendum in 2013. What I said then, and still believe, is:
"I am writing today as a civilian at the moment but I was a firefighter, second lieutenant and a fire commissioner in a fire district that had a major highway, serious pharmaceutical manufacturers and others with real hazmat issues as well as hotels six stories and a nearby university. The district of course included residences and we were in a rural setting surrounded by farmland. Our firehouse there is not much larger than ours is here on island and we had less manpower as well.
WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE here on this island? I haven't seen a needs assessment, have you? Are we over-building and over manning. Who knows? Do we need training rooms...meeting rooms...a media room for press briefings and a stated use for the dorms in the future as the place to accommodate expanded career firefighter overnight use...is there a plan here for more highly paid career staff?
If they were examined, I don't believe the "needs" would match what the Fire Board is proposing to build. Those needs should be guided by the chief and his requests, but should be vetted by a non involved professional that is aware of the requirements based upon population and types of structures on island.
It is fair that taxpayers want assurance that what is being built is adequate without being excessive. Spending tax dollars is easy. Justifying the spending is, however, extremely important and a legitimate requirement expected by those that pay.
Is there a really good interview question we should have asked you?
Why are you running on a slate of 4?
How would you have answered your question?
After observing the board these past years and not seeing any real discussion or dissenting votes...a failed referendum..it has been made very clear for me that islanders have spoken and they want change. The four of us have chatted after meetings and find we have the same desire to facilitate positive change. That doesn't mean coming in and always agreeing with each other, in fact we don't always agree.
The past trustees appeared to have passed already agreed upon agendas and quite often discouraging input from those interested citizens who attended the meetings. Debate, discussion amongst the board with public input or input from consultants is a priority. Making common sense decisions is a process that is imperative and wanted by the four of us. As a slate, we can bring and use the above principles at future board meetings and bring the community voice and opinions to the table for deeper discussions. We will be encouraging public participation on committees.
I want to make a difference.
Editorial note: We will feature all local candidates running for all elected positions equally who are interested in being featured on the Salt Spring Exchange. We have attempted to contact all candidates. If you are running for election and you would like to be featured in the Salt Spring Exchange people profile for elections, please contact us.
