Area C - Cobble Hill Area Director Candidate
Website: matteusclement.com
Q1. Please tell us a bit about yourself and why you are running.
A: My name is Matteus Clement and I am a new father, small business owner and beginning farmer. I have been involved with almost a dozen campaigns over the last few years and my favorite part has always been door knocking. It’s there that I have heard great concerns matched with great ideas. I want to take the community’s ideas, bring them to the table and implement them to make Cobble Hill and the Cowichan Valley a better place.
Q2. The community survey results placed a high priority on sustainability, in particular on protecting our watersheds, water supply and water quality, as well as on creating a more sustainable local economy. If elected, please describe what your approach would be to those issues.
A: There is no denying that water issues should be at the top of our priorities. The first reactions seem to be punitive around household water consumption (metering and penalties). I believe that the first steps should be to inform and assist in reducing household water consumption. In areas where we find water contamination, let’s find the source and work on ways to reduce or stop the contamination before bringing the hammer down. As a market farmer, I live and breathe the local economy model and want to have town halls around HOW we can do it.
Q3. The survey results indicated citizens want to see more consultation and accountability between elected officials and their constituents. If elected, please describe what your approach would be to those issues.
A: When I became the spokesperson for the Camosun College student society, I approached the other 20 board members asking them what three things they wanted to do in their term. I then found common ground between those goals and worked on those issues first. It energized the group seeing what UNITED us rather than what separated us.
My approach has always been and always will be collaborative with the knowledge that no decision can ever satisfy 100% of the people but if we can hear people out, find commonalities and get to 80% then we are doing pretty well.
Q4. What is your position on municipal tax rates and the corresponding level and allocation of services?
A: As a small business owner, I have to see both the COST of something but also the VALUE of something. I also believe that people don’t mind paying taxes but find issue when they feel that those dollars are not being spent wisely.
For example, CVRD management pay scales have been mentioned time and time again. We need not attack the people who have taken those jobs on but rather when those positions open up again ask ourselves if the current method of paying similar to other municipalities is the best method to use.
Q5. What is your vision for this area, and how would getting elected help achieve it?
A: More importantly, what is the COMMUNITY’S vision of this area?
Through town halls, online discussion forums and effective communication, I want to take the voices of Cobble Hill to the CVRD table and be a regional player in seeing us move forward.
I do hold many of the values of Cobble Hill near to me: farming, water protection and staying rural.
I appreciated the work of One Cowichan but 100 words cannot contain such a large idea. Please contact me to share your vision.
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