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Barley and Linklater bring political experience to Pemberton council campaigns

Candidates making final push before Nov. 15 election
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cAMPAIGN TRAIL James Linklater and Rebecca Barley are no strangers to politics. PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Both Rebecca Barley and James Linklater bring a wealth of political experience to their campaigns for Pemberton council.

In Barley's case, she's been involved in politics in some form or another for decades.

"My dad was the chief for 20 years," she said.

"I was on council for N'Quatqua for eight, I've been a school trustee for six, and just got acclaimed for my third term."

"I've also been the alternate director for Area C (in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District) for the last year and a half."

In running for Pemberton council, she'd like to bring that experience to the table to help form a plan for the entire region.

"Pemberton is the hub. A lot of the other outer areas support the economy of Pemberton, and I don't see a lot of planning that's inclusive of all the different areas and governing bodies," she said.

"I have relationships with most — with the First Nations communities, with the (SLRD), with a lot of interest groups, and I think there's an opportunity to tie it all together.

"If we're going to do anything substantial I think we need to do it together."

She'd also like to focus on fiscal responsibility at the village, and finding ways to fund things that doesn't include raising taxes.

For more information check out Barley's Facebook page: Rebecca Barley for Village of Pemberton Council.

James Linklater's political experience is more recent.

For the last three years, Linklater has been serving as a Village of Pemberton councillor.

Now, he's the lone incumbent seeking re-election.

"It's gone really well. I have learned a ton," he said with a laugh.

"The learning curve is steep. You go in, you try to do your homework and your research and talk to the people, and you think of your platform and your agenda, and then you get there and it's a different world.

"But that said, it's been a great experience, and that's part of the reason I'm running for re-election, because I actually feel much better equipped to do the job better this go around."

Linklater's experience — along with his knowledge of current files and ongoing projects at the village — will serve him well moving forward, he said.

"Certainly, a lot is just process and policy, and learning to have an analytical or critical eye when you're reading the reports and the agendas. It's an awful lot of reading," he said.

"And trying to learn not only to be thorough and actually get informed, but learning what questions to ask, so that when decisions and motions and policies and bylaws come forward, you can make an informed decision to move it forward or send it back, as it were."

If re-elected, Linklater would like to help Pemberton continue to move forward in the next four years in terms of population, infrastructure and recreation.

"I think my commitment to the town, whether it's through my volunteerism or as a member of council, I think stands for itself, and I certainly commit to working on their behalf," he said.

"I'm very aware that it's the people who are the boss, not the people at the table."

For more information find Linklater on Facebook by searching his name, or by emailing jamesforpemberton@gmail.com.

General Voting Day will be held at the Pemberton Community Centre located at 7390 Cottonwood Street in Pemberton from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15.