Bill Humphreys has previously served on the board and as chair of the TNRD. He has also been mayor of Barriere.
Now, Humphreys is seeking election to director of the TNRD electoral area O.
Question: What made you want to run for director again?
A: “I really think Barriere needs maybe a different direction than this slow going way that we’ve been going as far as development and a little bit more aggression as far as making it safe on our roads and that sort of thing.”
Humphreys praised incumbent director Kershaw for the “wonderful work” he’s done, but said, “It may be time for a different personality.”
Question: What do you believe qualifies you for the position?
A: Humphreys said he’s sat on various boards his entire adult life, including water boards and health boards. Plus, he said he’s had three years of “intense experience” with the TNRD while he was mayor of Barriere. If elected, he said he plans to devote his working time to that position and nothing else, just like when he was mayor.
“I don’t think if you’re going to do something in the latter part of your life that you can have a full-time job and have a political position and do it well.”
Question: What are the more important issues in the TNRD?
A: “We don’t maintain the roads but we need to push the provincial government to hire contractors that will maintain our roads - get rid of potholes, clear the sidelines, plow the snow - to make them safe.”
Additionally, he said rural law enforcement needs to be supported.
“Police are over-burdened. As a regional district, we need to find ways to augment their position. They can’t always travel in pairs, like they’re mandated to, and certainly, things fall off the table. That’s not their fault, they just need more help.”
Question: What would you like to change?
A: Humphreys said the money they collect from taxes and other levels of government needs to be “properly allocated” so they don’t end up taxing people to death. He said he’d also like to see some pushback against other levels of government who have unloaded services onto the municipal government and regional district.
“Services are being degraded, whether they notice it or not.”
Question: Why should people vote for you?
A: “If the way to go forward is to actively and aggressively pursue help from the federal and provincial governments, then I would be the one to pick,” he said. “If you want things to stay at the status quo and slowly, slowly grow, then Bill Kershaw would be the right pick.”
Question: How can people get in touch with you?
A: bill_humphreys@telus.net 250-819-9449