The Prince Rupert Northern View offered all three candidates for Mayor the opportunity to submit a profile for publication, capped at 350 words. They appear below alphabetically by last name. Note that instead of writing a candidate profile on himself as other candidates have done, and as he was out of town until near deadline Mr. Mussallem asked that a reporter come and interview him for the profile instead.
Kathy Bedard
I am currently serving in my 15th year as City Councillor for the City of Prince Rupert.
Professionally, I am the Executive Director for Hecate Strait Employment Development Society, which administers employment-based contracts for both the Province and Canada on the North Coast, including Haida Gwaii. The Society brings in an average of $2 million in funding dollars to the community, employs 26 individuals (currently) with a wage budget of almost $700,000. We also pay taxes of more than $30,000 to the City.
A long-time resident of the region, I have served as a School Trustee/Board Chair for SD #52, I volunteer on various community committees for crime prevention, substance abuse, multiculturalism and I have assisted many not for profits in writing proposals for funding. As a City Councillor, I have provided a strong voice for the social issues locally, provincially and federally and have advocated strongly for the clean up and safety concerns impacting neighbourhoods in the City.
I am now running for the position of Mayor of Prince Rupert. My ongoing vision for the community/region – that we have a very bright future – is now being realized! We must take advantage of the support of partners, such as CN, Maher Terminals, our First Nations neighbours, and the Province, and truly become the Door to the Rest of Canada. That means having a community and region ready participate fully in the opportunities that will come, to create a business climate which attracts new business and sustains the businesses which have supported the area for the long-term. It also means that we must create a balanced approach to community development by meeting both environmental and business/industry growth demands.
I am proud to represent Prince Rupert. I am capable of hard work and I am dedicated to seeing our community and region prosper. I know that Prince Rupert will fulfill its destiny as a growing, world class port and will play an important role in the continuing development of the Province of BC and Canada and I am hopeful for the community’s support in the upcoming election on November 19th.
Corinna Morhart
Corinna Morhart moved to Prince Rupert in fall of 2002. Corinna has lived in the Northwest close to 40 years and spent 10 years in NE BC.
Corinna’s mother, Geraldine Rhyason (aka Topsy Edgar) was born here in 1942 during WWII. Corinna’s parents, Topsy and Jim Morhart were married in 1959 in Prince Rupert. Corinna’s Maternal side is from Lax Kw’alaams and Paternal side is from Austria. Both of Corinna’s Granddaughters (Eva & Peyton) were born and continue to live in Prince Rupert.
Corinna’s Mother’s cousin, Barbara Sheppard and her children continue to reside in Prince Rupert and Port Edward. Corinna remembers as a child, coming to visit family in Prince Rupert and with Barbara and Alan (late and former Mayor of Port Edward). Since moving to Prince Rupert, Corinna discovered more family members: Leonard and Mona Alexcee.
Corinna has three grown children: Natasha (Tim) who presently lives in New Westminister and works at the RCMP’s Forensic Lab; Jessica lives in Prince Rupert and has just completed her Associate Degree at NWCC and has two beautiful daughters: Eva & Peyton; David (Madison) lives in Grande Prairie and completed his Class One Drivers license, and they have a handsome son, Luka.
Corinna believes in education and returned to school in 2003 and she completed in five years: NWCC in Prince Rupert (2003-2005): Entrepreneurial Tourism Management & Business Administration Certificate, Business Administration Diploma.
An opportunity to further her education, Corinna then completed her Bachelor of Social Worker (BSW) at the UNBC campus in Prince Rupert and then completed the Child Welfare Certificate (2008).
Corinna has over 21 years experience in the retail and service industry. Corinna worked in the Real Estate Industry for five years and co-owner of the Sears retail/catalogue outlet in Terrace. Since graduating from UNBC Corinna has been employed with the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Corinna is compassionate about social issues (education & health); environment (ensuring a healthy environment now and for future generations); and economic issues (ensuring opportunities not only for the business sector, but for all individuals).
Corinna believes the HEART of Prince Rupert, are the PEOPLE.
Jack Mussallem
Jack Mussallem believes that Prince Rupert should re-elect him as Mayor because his background in local governance make him well suited to continue leading the community as it undergoes big economic changes over the next few years.
“I’ve got the education, the knowledge, and the experience to do the work. Over the years I’ve worked for five different local governments, 19 years of doing that, I’ve had seven years . . . as Prince Rupert’s mayor,” says Mussallem.
Prince Rupert is Mussallem’s home town. He was born and raised here, and his family has been part of the community since the pioneer days. Because of this, he says he feels a strong connection to the city and the people .
“Everyday I spend a lot of time out in the community. I’m talking to people, I have a good feel for this community and an understanding of the community,” said Mussallem.
Unlike other local politicians, Mussallem has no day job that he needs to go to. This, he says, allows him to put his entire working day into being the Mayor and to spend more time working on issues and promoting the community’s interests.
“I enjoy what I’m doing. Every morning that I get up, my first consideration is for the City of Prince Rupert. I don’t have somebody else to answer to, I don’t have somewhere else to be. And that allows me with my education, experience, and knowledge to maximize what I do for the City of Prince Rupert, and what I do for the people of Prince Rupert,” says Mussallem.
Mussallem believes that the most important things a mayor should do is to talk to residents about their concerns; to guide the council, to be the “chief spokesman of the community”; and to promote the community and the interests of its people to other levels of government, businesses and organizations.
“The role of the mayor is to lead, the role of the mayor is to facilitate. It's really a servant/leader relationship...Nobody will promote us but ourselves,” says Mussallem.
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Look for profiles of the candidates for Prince Rupert City Council in next week’s issue of the Prince Rupert Northern View.
General Election Day is November 19, and the All-Candidate’s Forum hosted by the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for the evening of November 8 at the Lester Centre of the Arts.