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Miro Kolvek

Committed to cutting mayor's pay
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What's one thing people would be surprised to learn about you? I'm a captain in NATO reserves.

What world leader would you most like to go for dinner/drinks with, and why? President Obama to ask him some questions.

What book do you recommend everyone read and why? Joseph Heller's  Catch-22 , make you better person.

Give an example of a difficult situation you have overcome? Escape from communist Czechoslavakia after 10 years of trying.



What are your favourite sports to watch on TV? Hockey, tennis and basketball.

Through his eastern European accent it is clear that Miro Kolvek is committed to making Whistler a better place.

His plan as mayor starts with reducing the mayor's salary by 50 per cent. He said he is currently working 80 hours a week at his café. If he is elected he said he will cut his time at the café in half and his wife will operate the business while he is taking care of municipal business.

When asked what motivated him to run for mayor instead of seeking a councillor seat to gain some political experience Kolvek didn't hesitate to answer.

"I am president of two corporations," he said in an interview at his café on the Friday evening of Cornucopia weekend. "I have my knowledge from Europe, from the U.S.A., from Canada, from the universities and my military experience. I went basically from soldier to captain in three years."

He explained that when communism was over-thrown in the Czech Republic, the people who took control of the country had to start with nothing.

"So, I don't see anything like super hard to be the mayor of a city of 10,500 people," Kolvek said. "What I see is very, very hard is if people don't listen and many people don't go and vote. It will be nice to bring new blood and a fresh start."

After praising the current council members, Kolvek said it is time for newer residents to step into leadership roles.

In addition to cutting the mayor's salary, Kolvek's plans include eliminating pay parking in the day lots.

"Zero taxes up," he said. "We pay already enough. It is almost 70 per cent in town everything together with the gasoline and HST and stuff."

Asked if he is a serious candidate, Kolvek said he would die for this community.

"I'm just sick like everybody else," Kolvek said of the current state of Whistler. "Too much is too much."

 

 



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