Longtime broadcaster seeks seat on Vernon city council

A 30-year broadcaster has thrown his hat in the ring for a seat on Vernon city council.

Ross Hawse has put his name forward as a candidate in the Oct. 15th municipal election.

Hawse says his career in media and marketing has "forged strong opinions on the importance of accountable and transparent governance."

Hawse has a degree in communications from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

His professional career includes serving as director of operations for Vista Radio West, general sales manager for Newcap Radio Alberta, and regional manager for Vista Radio’s B.C. South/Vancouver Island group of stations.

He says the opportunity to form meaningful government at the municipal level is "more important than ever" to form "strong, progressive leadership with a foundation of transparent communication."

Hawse has served as vice-president of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce, is a past director on the board of the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters as well as the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club, and is a former member of the broadcasting advisory boards for both BCIT and NAIT.

He is currently finishing volunteer training as an emergency response manager with the North Okanagan Canadian Red Cross.

"Community safety and well-being, services for seniors and families, housing and affordability, transportation needs, and climate strategies, these all weigh on the minds of many in our community. Important decisions are on the horizon, now is the time to ensure Vernon makes the right choices to improve our community," he says.

"I believe it is possible to have our cornerstone be small-town values while moving forward building a fruitful city for generations to come."