What previous experience do you have that will help you serve effectively on Council? I’ve had various jobs in a variety of industries, which has exposed me to a wide gamut of experiences. I’ve managed a multi-million dollar business, worked retail and now have a successful business in Golden. The time I had away from the Columbia Valley allowed me to see what other communities have done and what might work and what might not work for Golden.
What do you believe are the three most important issues facing Golden over the next four years, and why? In my opinion, Golden seems a little lost. What do we want Golden to be in the future? What do we want Golden to be now? I know that Golden will need to grow, but we don’t want it to be at the expense of the people of Golden. We want to avoid the issues that Canmore and Revelstoke are currently experiencing. We will need to thread the needle on how we grow but keep things affordable. Growth covers the three important issues that Golden is facing. Affordability (Specifically housing), infrastructure and jobs. If Golden doesn’t grow, housing will continue to get more expensive, Jobs will be limited, and Infrastructure will fall into disrepair as the tax base will remain small, but the costs will continue to increase.
Tell us a little about yourself and your connection to Golden: I was born in Golden, and both sides of my family have been in the valley since the 1940s. I’m following in the footsteps of some of my cousins; both Barney Bardarson and Mag Magnusson served on council. I’m not sure if it’s the Icelandic heritage or just my upbringing that has made me interested in serving on council.
It could also be my dad who instilled the urge to serve my community in me; he may not have been on council but was involved in many different organizations. I also served with the Leo Club (the youth arm of the Lions Club) while in High School.
Why have you decided to run for Golden Town Council?
I decided to run for council because of recent issues that have come up, such as the sewage capacity issue. I am worried about how the current council missed this issue and what other issues might have been missed. I am hoping a new perspective on the council will help avoid these kinds of issues. In addition to the sewage issue, I would like to see Golden return to its previous motto, the Town of Opportunity. We shouldn’t be turning away businesses or people who want to live in Golden.
