A series of mayoralty video profiles has been produced by The Progress to prepare Chilliwack voters ahead of the Oct. 20 election.
Interview questions for all five candidates tackled affordable housing, crime, economic development, and why citizens should vote for them.
People want change in Chilliwack, said mayoral candidate Dave Rowan.
“I am your change,” Rowan replied, when asked why citizens should vote for him.
The owner of Dave’s Towing said he has a few suggestions.
“I don’t want to put up with the stuff that’s been thrown at us, ‘We have to do this. We have to do that,’” Rowan said.
READ MORE: Rowan runs for mayor
Something has to be done about the homelessness and addictions in the streets.
“We all know what the problem is,” Rowan said. “I have some good suggestions and I have got some suggestions that people are not going to like. But what we are doing now is not working.”
The opioid crisis is everywhere.
“You can look all over B.C., Canada, and USA. It’s a big epidemic, something has to be done and I want to do something.”
He has concerns about the low-barrier supportive housing projects being built downtown for homeless.
“They are wanting to allow people that are doing drugs, living with people who are trying to get away from drugs,” Rowan said, likening that to “hanging a sandwich in front of a dog.”
Rehab treatment is what is needed, not supervised injection sites, he said.
READ MORE: More candidate meetings
@CHWKjourno
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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