Name: Dawn Thomas
Ward You’re Running In: 9
Current Occupation: Systems Analyst
Voter Information: www.urdamnright.info urdamnright_2012@yahoo.ca
Dawn Thomas is a Regina resident who lives in Ward 3 but is running in Ward 9.
Family is important to Dawn. She has two children – Damian (3) and Brandi (17), two dogs – Ginger (5) and Lexi (3 months), two cats – Tiger Lily (2) and Gayle (< 1 yr), and a wonderful, supportive significant other – Jason (age withheld).
Dawn holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Saskatchewan. Yes, she is a “geek” in all aspects of the word. She works at SaskTel as a Business Analyst (since 2004) – that’s like a Programmer Analyst but with more meetings.
In her “spare” time, she volunteers with various organizations including the SaskTel Pioneers and Heritage Community Association. She is a member of Communicator Club Toastmasters, where she is improving her communication and leadership skills.
Living in Regina since 2002, Dawn sees a lot of things that need to be improved in the city.
QUESTION AND ANSWER
1. Briefly, why are you running for council?
Honestly, the stadium fiasco.
2. What is the single most pressing issue facing Regina? How would you solve it?
The stadium fiasco. I would solve it by stopping, immediately, any spending on the project. Return to the drawing board. Consult the citizens. Find out: #1 – If they want it, #2 – What it should look like, #3 – Where it should be located, #4 – Most importantly, who is paying for it. Examine ALL solutions and come up with one that works for the majority of citizens.
3. Imagine the Regina Of The Future that you want to help build. What will it look like?
(From my City Council address on regina.ca) My name is Dawn Thomas, city council candidate for Ward 9. I want to share with you MY vision. Imagine if you will…a city in the not to distant future. A city where ALL of the citizens are engaged and work towards sustainable communities within an environmentally and fiscally responsible city. Where we have state of the art, innovative, ground breaking technologies that address the reality of climate change in a way that allows sane development of buildings, houses, and green spaces that pay for themselves within a couple of decades. Where every citizen has their basic needs taken care of. Where every neighbourhood has access to all required services whether that be schools, grocery stores, or recreation facilities. One where people’s voices are actively heard and listened to as they are consulted about major initiatives that affect the entire city instead of having a solution developed behind closed doors dictated to them. A city that will allow current citizens to sanely develop community projects so that their children and their grandchildren have somewhere to live that THEY are proud to call home. One that doesn’t leave hundreds of million of dollars of debt for them to take care of. THIS is the Regina I want to live in. THIS is the Regina I am currently and will continue to work towards. Your vote for me on Oct 24, 2012 will help this vision become a reality.
4. Beyond immediate concerns like housing, the stadium and infrastructure renewal, what “big idea” project do you want to work on that nobody seems to be talking about?
Environment. We need to address it sooner than later.
5. Name something the last council got right.
Starting to explore the Master Transportation Plan. There is a lot more to explore.
6. Now, point out their biggest mistake.
Pat’s Patio – aka City Square Plaza. budget: $6 million, cost: $12.6 million and growing; of course, they don’t take into consideration the havoc they wreaked on the infrastructure on Lorne and 12th.
7. What are you reading these days?
The Hunger Games. Oh wait, you probably Prairie Dog. :0) LeaderPost – once and a while. Metro – once and a while.
8. Beyond your residence, do you own any property in Regina or in the immediate area?
I own 1 house on 2 lots. I don’t have a vested interest in creating the next Regina Landing and making mega-moola off of the taxpayers of Regina.
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FUN QUESTIONS!
1. What is your favourite Regina restaurant?
Oh, that’s a toss up; depends what I’m in the mood for. Viet Thai, Bocado’s, Earl’s, Applebees, Italian Star Deli (sandwiches to go).
2. Who is your favourite Regina artist?
One Bad Son.
3. What actor would play you in the gritty cable drama, Queen City Hall?
Anna Silk, Lost Girl
4. How would your character die?
She’d be hit by a rogue toilet seat that fell from a space station
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PICK A SIDE
Cats or Dogs? Cats
Vampires or Werewolves? Vampires – the other is too painful
Boxing or Roller Derby? Roller Derby Boxing
Steak or Sushi? Steak
Hill Towers or Legislative Building? Neither
Quance Street or Dewdney Avenue? Dewdney
Artesian or Wascana Park Gazebo? Wascana Park Gazebo
Prairie Dog or Richardson Ground Squirrel? Prairie Dog
Giant Grasshopper or Stegosaurus? Small, cute grasshopper
Saskaboom or SaskAdvantage? Neither
Bike or Sports Car? Bike
Le Macaron or Five Guys? Neither
The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? The Beatles
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BONUS QUESTION: Make up your own question (And answer it, of course!)
Is housing a municipal concern?
Well, thank you for asking. Yes, it is. It’s a municipal, provincial, and federal concern. But the buck has to start somewhere.
Here’s my plan…how we can address this without increased taxes:
By working toward community partnerships with non-profits, such as Carmichael’s Outreach, Salvation Army, Soul’s Harbour and Habitat for Humanity, I hope to take some of the burden off of the City of Regina as far as affordable housing and placing it in the hands of those who have been working diligently for years towards ending homelessness. In this way, we can ensure we address the root of the issue vs putting a band aid on the gash. We need to work with them while encouraging the provincial and federal governments to do the same.
I would also explore diverting some of the tax incentives for corporations into trust funds to assist with the monetary burden.
Breaking the affordable housing initiate off of the stadium plan so that we can proceed with the housing without the stadium if that is what the residents of Regina want when the plebiscite is held.
Multi-family residence tax incentives will only be an option if the housing is affordable.
I am open to other ideas.
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