School District 69 (Qualicum) incumbent trustee Bruce Cownden is running again in Area E (Parksville and Qualicum Beach) because he wants to see through some of the big, current issues.
“Boy when they say it takes one term to learn what you’re doing, they were right,” he said.
He said he was surprised how much time and energy the job takes, but he still feels he has something to offer. He said the board will lose a “wealth of experience with two current trustees not running again, “you do want some continuity,” but it will give the opportunity to have some fresh voices.
The past chair of the Oceanside Development and Construction Association and a Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce director, Cownden has been in Parksville since 1997.
He said it takes a lot to get used to the huge amounts of money the district deals with, pointing out they spend $225,000 a day, which puts a recent $300,000 surplus in perspective.
Coming from a business background he said he always wants to see greater efficiencies.