Gail Dawson-Russell wants to represent the residents of Youbou/Meade Creek as director on the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s board.
The first-time politician, who has spent nine years working with provincial governments in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, is challenging long-time incumbent Klaus Kuhn to be the director for the CVRD’s Electoral Area I in the municipal elections on Oct. 20.
Dawson-Russell has lived in the area for 10 years, and owns Lake Cow Storage and GMR Business & Accounting Services.
She said Youbou/Meade Creek needs the type of leadership that she can bring to the table.
“I think my extensive financial and accounting background can really help in the role of representing this area,” Dawson-Russell said.
“I’ve been resolving issues and developing actions plans as part of my business for 40 years.”
Dawson-Russell said she is now semi-retired and feels the time is right to enter local politics.
“I now have more time to commit to a community role in the area, and I think I can do a lot for the residents of Youbou/Meade Creek,” she said.
“I believe that I can do a better job than Klaus Kuhn.”
Dawson-Russell said she’s still in a fact-finding mode at this point in the campaign and is closely studying the issues that are important to the area.
She said she’s researching the issues around the referendums on affordable housing and establishing a water function in the CVRD that will be part of the upcoming municipal elections, and she will share her views on those subjects on her website when she’s finished her review.
“I was at an exciting meeting a few days ago regarding hiking and biking opportunities in the area, and think those types of initiatives should be pursued to make the community more healthy and happy,” Dawson-Russell said.
“I will be going door to door to meet people as part of the campaign, and some of my supporters are opening up their homes so I can hold meet-and-greet opportunities as well. I’m really enjoying the campaign so far.”
For more information on Dawson-Russell, check out her Facebook page at facebook.com/gail4areai/.