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Sharon Switzer announces candidacy for Mayor of Fernie

Another person has thrown their hat in the ring to be Fernie’s next mayor.
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Sharon Switzer has announced her candidacy for mayor in the 2018 City of Fernie elections. Submitted

By Jennifer Cronin

On August 14, Sharon Switzer proudly announced her candidacy for mayor of Fernie in the 2018 municipal election.

Retiring from the City of Fernie in June this year, and with the support of her family, Switzer believes she has much to contribute to Fernie’s future.

While working for the City she was able to engage with a multitude of user groups and residents over her 20-year career in recreation, and all departments of the City, learning what she believes matters most to residents.

Switzer’s involvement in the community started when she moved to Fernie in 1980. She worked with many groups to move ideas forward for the betterment of all involved, and feels she has the ability to bring people together, to listen deeply to their needs, and to respond decisively.

Switzer believes that attainable housing for Fernie is possible and that we haven’t gone far enough to truly address what people need to be able to work at middle-income jobs and live here. She has much to say on this subject and is very excited to work with young families, seniors, and working singles who feel there won’t be a place for them in Fernie in the future.

It is her plan to work to consult with the community on priorities for City assets, to create efficient and effective communications with the public, and to cut the red tape with the aim of making your experience with the City of Fernie the best it’s ever been.

She is very passionate about this and feels improved internal culture can make all the difference in service delivery.

Switzer knows that the foundation of our community is its strength and that we can’t let our identity get lost in making one decision at a time without looking at the accumulative effects on the landscape and its people. She feels clear vision is required now to anchor us into the next 100 years.

“Our plan must look at big changes and how we can navigate growth and opportunity while remaining authentic and hold our mountain culture values,” she said.

“I believe this needs to be clearly articulated and championed at every turn. Economic innovation, cultural diversity, recreational excellence, and a town that shines with not only its natural beauty but its cleanliness, its efficiency, and its people.

“This is only some of what my campaign is based on. Please, when I meet you on the street, ask me anything, tell me what you care about and I will listen.”

Learn more about Sharon Switzer and her campaign by using the hashtag #ForeverForwardFernie or contacting her via fernieliving@gmail.com or 250-946-6919.