Angel Elias has a simple message for the Mission voters who elected her to council on Saturday night.
“Thank you,” she said.
The election saw five incumbent councillors re-elected in Jag Gill, Danny Plecas, Mark Davies, Ken Herar and Carol Hamilton – with Mayor Paul Horn also returning.
With the retirement of Cal Crawford, that meant there would be at least one new face on council.
And it is Elias, the executive director of the Mission Hospice Society.
“I look forward to working with Angel,” said re-elected Mayor Paul Horn on election night. “She will be a great addition to our council.”
Elias took the final spot in the election with 2,762 votes.
“I am very honoured to be elected on to council,” Elias told the Record. “I am humbled by the support and love I have received from family and friends, and I am excited to start working with Mayor Paul Horn and my fellow councillors.
Elias said it will be a steep learning curve being the “new kid on the block” and she will look to be added to city committees that will play to her strengths.
“The next few months will be filled with orientations, strategic planning and learning some processes for city council and the role,” Elias said. “That being said, my priorities I will be addressing will be around public safety, bringing in some much-needed services to support our homeless issues in the downtown core.”
Elias said she will champion the addition of more mental health services, plus programs to support addictions and sober living, with wrap-around services that benefit all.
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“It will not be an easy task, but I know this needs to be a key strategic direction for us,” she said, adding that council needs to work with the province to secure provincial funding for these services.
“Another key strategic priority will be looking at our Infrastructure improvements that are needed and ensuring we have the budget for the improvements, with a timeline to complete the projects that are identified,” Elias said. “Reviewing the development cost charges and Community Amenity Contributions, and bringing those fees up to date will help with creating funding for infrastructure improvements and improvements to our parks.
I would like to look at the needs of our parks, and look at improvements like lighting, bathrooms and other amenities that are needed. Updating our water park is something I heard from many young families. With raising CACs, this will allow us to have the funds needed for park improvements.Public transit improvements, senior programs and services and senior housing are also priorities I will be addressing.”
@shinebox44
chris.campbell@missioncityrecord.com
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