Dear Editor:

Quite a few people attended the all candidates forum at the high school on Monday, November 7th, to see for themselves these brave souls vying for a position on council. In attending I was able to justify my picks by watching the candidates in action. Here are my choices:

Mayor: Gerry Taft. His motives are not selfish, he is honest, a good listener, not afraid to make hard decisions, and he has successfully been mayor through difficult economic times. His biggest accomplishment is negotiating the reopening of the helipad at the Invermere and District Hospital.

Council: Spring Hawes. A womans perspective, good spokesperson for handicap and disabled issues, is thoughtful, has intelligent take on the issues. A successful businessperson with the intellect to tackle hard issues.

Council: Greg Anderson. Hes committed, has a wealth of knowledge to bring to council regarding accessing funding from government sources. Sees the big picture and is skilled in all the areas needed for the job.

Council: Dale Wilker. A great listener full of innovative ideas, has common sense, is familiar of how to be successful in industry, brings a wealth of information to the table, and loves his town.

Council: Paul Denchuk. Surrounds himself with a demographic of the population not represented fully here, is a great listener and is extremely enthusiastic.

Council: Dave McGrath. Surprise! I was pleasantly surprised by his unbridled enthusiasm. Hes not afraid to speak his mind and has views which represents an important segment of the population who cannot vote. Seems honest and wears his emotions on his sleeve, much like me!

Peter Pankovitch

Invermere