By Gillian Rosenberg, Vancouver Province, 15 November 2002
Ben's mayoral campaign in 2002, when he was 24 years old, reflected a desire to increase young people's participation in politics
Youth is on the prowl in this year’s civic election campaigns, but only one 19-year-old can say she’s a commercial airline pilot.
Gillian Rosenberg, who is running for a Surrey council seat, is a co-pilot for a small airline.
“If I’m old enough to be first officer on a plane with 20 people, I’m old enough to hold a seat at city hall,” she said.
Mom Linda Rosenberg says it’s time youth got involved.
“They are the future of the country,” she said.
The candidate’s issues focus on young people: Housing prices; taxes; “good jobs, not McJobs;” and putting some freshness into the “stale-bates” among the oldsters on council.
The odds of Rosenberg getting elected are long: She has little name recognition, a small budget and is up against a Surrey Electors Team war chest estimated at $150,000.
SET Coun. Dianne Watts is pleased young people are involved: “Far too often city council is occupied by the over-60 crowd.”
- Another young person tossing his hat into the ring — literally — is 23-year-old Dareck Faichuk, who has taken to wearing cowboy hats to stand out from the crowd in Surrey’s mayoral race.
“There is definitely cause for concern in McCallum-land,” said the Simon Fraser University political-science student. “This is about making Surrey a better place to live.”
- Cheerful Ben Isitt, 24, has a bulging academic resume, was involved in the tent-city protest on the legislature lawns and wants to become mayor of Victoria.
He needs a little seasoning — a call to institute a $10-an-hour minimum wage does not fall within the civic jurisdiction — but he has impressed observers with his smarts.
- Chilliwack boasts two 18-year-old newcomers: Rachel Meek, a part-time college student making her first attempt for council, and Alex McAulay, who hopes to be a doctor one day, is running for school board.
- Nicole Barnett, 23, one of B.C.’s youngest school trustees, is seeking re-election in Delta.
