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 Norbert Schlenker, who is a candidate running for 2015 Fire Board Trustee Election.

Here's a bit about Norbert;

I've lived on Salt Spring for 15 years. I'm a (mostly retired now) personal financial advisor and operate a computer refurbishing business here. I have served in many volunteer roles since coming to Salt Spring: treasurer and president of ArtSpring, president of the Stingrays summer swim team, treasurer of the Saltspring Island Sailing Club, member of the Advisory Planning Commission, and co-ordinator of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Programs on island.

What brought you to Salt Spring Island?

We were lured by friends who already lived here. "Come visit for a few days. We'll catch up." And the ball started rolling.

We've done the same to others since.

What one thing about Salt Spring would you tell someone who has never visited the island?

Come visit in January. If you find it magical then, just wait until you experience the rest of the year.

If you had a magic Salt Spring wand, what island thing would you change?

Change "we can't do that" into "how can we do that."

Which well known person, living or dead, do you think would be a good addition to the island?

And bring paparazzi? No, thanks.

Which elected position are you seeking?

Fire District Trustee

Why should Salt Springers vote for you?

I've been interested and involved in local governance since shortly after I arrived. It looks to me like the fire district needs help with policy, budget and governance. We need a new hall to replace the one in Ganges. We need better control of the budget. We need to get the community engaged. I can help with all of these.

Is there a really good interview question we should have asked you?

As a financial advisor, what's your best advice in a nutshell?

How would you have answered your question?

You can't beat Dickens: "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds nought and six, result misery."

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.