Burns Lake Councillor Chris Beach says he’s running for Mayor of Burns Lake with a focus on economic stability and growth, expanding relationships with First Nations and infrastructure improvements.
The resignation of Luke Strimbold last month has prompted a by election set for Dec. 10th.
Beach says he’s inspired by Strimbold’s work in the community, and is up for the challenge.
“I’ll probably take it one step at a time, and if I am successful at becoming mayor, then I’ll meet with my Council…and then we’ll work together to prioritize and strategize for the remainder of the two-year term,” says Beach.
Beach also offers his take on how the village needs to handle foretasted cuts to the annual allowable cut. He says it’s something council is already working on.
“We want to start planning for it, but we also want to do whatever we can to maintain and maybe even expand and to make more out of the forest that we do have.”
Beach was raised in Burns Lake and has served as councillor since 2013.
He studied political science and wrote his M.A. on the flooding of the Ootsa Lake communities.
So far, no one else is has announced they’re running for Mayor.