Interviewed by Alex Rake.
Since many students will be voting for the first time, what would you describe as the role of municipal politics? What can city councillors actually do?
The main roles of municipalities have changed over the years. We’re governed by what you call a “community charter” now, and we’re a version like any other version of law. Our core services: provide police, fire, public works — roads, sewers, and such, okay? And recreation I would say. That’s the core! There are a lot of other things we get involved with, like animal control. It goes on forever. I could spend three hours with you on that, Adam. But there’s core services you have to provide, are mandated to provide under the community charter.
Are you doing anything to address the lack of student interest in politics?
Well, I don’t know why there’s a lack of student interest in politics. I don’t see the students attending any council meetings or any committee of the home meetings. What they should do is it starts with the classroom. Make arrangements so they can go tour various meetings, right?
And interviews! The mayor’s phone number, his office is open all the time. You can phone the mayor any time. He’ll talk to ya. But, you know you have to have a basic understanding … If you don’t have a basic understanding of how the municipality runs, it could be different for you. It’s a learning exercise. Students should get involved. It’s their future. One thing you might know: in a municipality, the taxpayer’s the guy who pays the bill. That sometimes gets lost in the big picture. So, we’re looking after the taxpayer’s interest.
Why did you choose to run on a slate, and what do you think this means for the organization of municipal politics?
Well, because we run as a team. We wouldn’t call it a slate — we call it a team. It’s right in here [the CRMG pamphlet]. We keep saying team. We’ve got eight issues that are dear to our hearts, and the rest — we’re on our own. Have you read one of these [CRMG pamphlets]?
Not yet.
It’s all in there, actually. You want to call it a slate, go ahead; but I don’t consider it a slate. Read this and it will tell you the whole story. So you can read it. I don’t need to repeat it, right?
Do you have a specific project you want to prioritize or bylaw you want to change?
Well, bylaws are regulatory. My main goal right now is to look after the taxpayer’s wallet. Make sure we maintain our infrastructure and those items on here. That’s the main goal. Then there’s also the other goals that come. There’s a day-to-day operation on the municipality you got to run which is aside from this. It’s a $64 million people’s business. You gotta run it like a people’s business.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. As candidate Nundal could only be reached at a public meet-and-greet event, The Cascade did not have the time to ask all of its questions, as it would have in a formal interview arrangement.
