Marianne Butler

Marianne Butler

Village of Lumby Council candidate.

My family and I moved to Lumby 7 years ago. It was the very best decision that we could have made. Lumby is a fantastic community and it's only getting better!

My name is Marianne Butler. I am a 41 year old resident of the Village of Lumby who is running for a seat on the Village Council in the 2018 civic election.

I would love to have the opportunity to be a part of helping Lumby continue to grow and thrive. 

Questions

1) Why should voters cast a ballot for you October 20?
 

I feel that I am a good choice for Council as I live here in every sense of the word, making me deeply committed to its health and success.

I also posses many qualities that I think would make me an asset at the council table during discussions. I live, shop, play, walk, swim, skate, bike, run, and even ski here. My kids attend programs offered in our community centre and are of part of local sports teams.

I support local not-for-profit organizations by volunteering for them. Because of our deep involvement in the Village, I am invested in its continued health and success.

I have a lot to offer the Village of Lumby. I am well organized, dependable, have experience working on boards, have great critical thinking skills, am not afraid to speak my mind and, because I interact with our community and services every day, I really care about the people who live here and the decisions being made by mayor and council. 

2) What would you consider Lumby's greatest strengths and weaknesses, and why?

The secret's out! More and more people are realizing that Lumby is a fantastic place to live! Lumby is a beautiful place with many amenities. It is a friendly, supportive place.

Being a small town with many amenities for a community its size is what makes Lumby so great. The people who live in Lumby care about the community.

Because of this, Lumby is mainly a safe, welcoming place to be. The local residents care about each other and the Village. If someone needs a hand they are very likely to get help from others.

On top of all of this, thanks in part to grassroots efforts from residents in the past, we have some pretty great programs and facilities for a town this size. For all these reasons, and more, Lumby has become a desirable place to live. 

3) What is the biggest issue facing Lumby, and as a member of the council, how would you work to address this issue?

With small town charm comes small town challenges.

Due to its size, Lumby has a limited amount of residential housing, a small tax base, minimal access to public transit, and a limited amount of medical funding and programs.

Our Village council has to work hard to find support for the infrastructure and programs that our citizens want and need.

If elected to council I plan to continue advocating for the needs of our community and to look for new and innovative ways to support the growth and well being of Lumby while supporting the needs of its citizens. 

Because Lumby is such a great place many people would like to live here.

I believe that the biggest issue facing Lumby at the moment is a lack of residential space, especially for people in lower income brackets.

As the real estate market continues to climb, there is very little affordable housing available in Lumby. The current council has started to make strides to diversify the housing available in much of Lumby and increase opportunities for the growth of residential housing.

If elected to Council, I would like to continue to support progress in this area. 

Lumby is my home and I am deeply invested in its continued success and welfare.

If elected to the Village Council, I will be an engaged and productive councillor. I will keep an open mind during group discussions in council meetings and will always be open to hearing from my fellow residents.

I will ensure that I am prepared for, and fully present during, council meetings and will do my very best to represent the residents of the Village of Lumby.