Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick confirmed on Tuesday that he would indeed be seeking a second term.
He said he was announcing now because many people had been asking what his plans were.
“It’s time to finalize the announcement and get people thinking,” he told the Bulletin.
McCormick says that he sees himself as a facilitator and does not take credit for specific things.
“The revitalization of the business community was done by the business community,” he said.
His job is to help develop the sense of confidence people have in the community, he says.
He says he is proud of the relationships he has forged within various government ministries to change the perception of how Kimberley is viewed.
“The people in the Ministries most important to Kimberley, FLNRO, Environment, Tourism — they all know we as a community are doing our best to help ourselves. And communities perceived to be helping themselves get some assistance.
“You can’t just go to government and say, ‘we need money’. It doesn’t work. But if you’re perceived to be doing what you can to help yourself, then the government will top up the money you need.
“We’ve received close to $12 million in grants in the past four years.
“I’m proud of the relationships we’ve developed.”
McCormick also said he was proud of the closer relationship developed with Cranbrook through the Cranbrook Kimberley Development Initiative.
Election day is October 20, 2018.
Thus far, McCormick is the first candidate to announce a run for Mayor or Council.