By David F. Rooney
Scrappy, tenacious and hard working are three characteristics that aptly describe Doug Clovechok. They are also qualities that will hold the BC Liberal Party candidate in good stead as he metaphorically slugs it out in the struggle for Revelstokians’ political hearts, minds and votes on May 14.
Alberta-born Clovechok’s family vacationed most years in the upper Columbia Valley. Later, as an adult, the former teacher moved to the Fairmont area permanently and became the College of The Rockies administrator. for the last two years he has been working quietly to make a name for himself throughout the Columbia River-Revelstoke riding by attending public meetings and other events, and by meeting Bc Liberal party members and supporters.
“It’s not about right or left,” he said in an interview on Wednesday. “It’s actually not even about politics. It’s about moving forward or moving backwards.”
He said the choice that Columbia River-Revelstoke voters make on May 14 will determine whether local economies in towns and cities like Revelstoke, Golden, Radium, Fairmont, Invermere and Revelstoke actually improve.
He is a guy who likes to talk about small business, community values and ideas.
One idea Clovechok likes to talk about is a proposal to form different community councils of ordinary people from all kinds of backgrounds — even ideological backgrounds — these councils could, if he wins the May 14 election, help him keep tabs on local issues and concerns. That’s actually pretty good idea, especially when you consider how large the riding is. There are 32,205 people in the riding and they’re spread out over 39,135 square kilometres.
He wants to work towards a healthier small business climate and a speedy response to issues of concern within the riding’s small cities and towns. Ask him what he means by that and he’ll point to Cherry Creek Falls near Meadowbrook. Cherry Creek Falls had long been an area of Crown land used by the local community as a recreational area. Then a company applied for and was granted a gravel-mining permit near the falls. The community mobilized and Clovechok said a number of people asked him to lobby the government to help them stop the mine. He spoke with members of the government and the miner, who decided to sell his mining claim to the community for $55,000. That worked out and the government later declared the area a regional park.
You can find out more about Doug Clovechok and his ideals in an In Conversation program to be shown on RCTV’s Channel 6 on Thursday, April 18, at 5 pm, Friday, April 19, at 9 am, Saturday, April 20 at 11 am and on Sunday, April 21, at 7 pm. You can also catch a portion of that interview by watching the video below:
