Incumbent councillor Ron Polillo seeks second term focused on growth, stability and downtown revitalization

He also pointed to the work accomplished during the current term and said he wants to continue building on that progress. With two current councillors running for mayor and another choosing not to seek re-election, Polillo said the next council will look substantially different.

“That’s going to be at least three new council faces,” he said. “I think it’s important to have stability, security and someone who really knows the job and what the job entails.”

One of the centrepieces of Polillo’s campaign is the future of the city’s Civic Core project, a long-discussed plan that could reshape downtown Prince George through major investments in recreation, culture and convention infrastructure. Council recently voted to defer major decisions on the project until after the election, a move Polillo supported.

“I felt we really needed the new council to make the decisions moving forward,” he said.

While the file has generated considerable debate within the community, Polillo remains one of its strongest supporters and believes it has the potential to transform the downtown core.

“For me, it is crucial to reinvest in our downtown,” he said. “The Civic Core has the possibility of being a game-changer for downtown.”

Polillo supports replacing Kopar Memorial Arena, building a new performing arts centre and expanding the Civic Centre to attract larger conferences and events.

He noted the Civic Centre is already operating at capacity and said additional convention space would allow Prince George to compete for larger gatherings that currently bypass the city.

At the same time, Polillo acknowledged that a project of that scale will ultimately require public support.

“I do believe that eventually we’re going to have to take this to the public and have the residents of Prince George decide in a referendum,” he said.

If re-elected, he said moving the Civic Core project forward would be among his priorities.

Economic development and tax base diversification are also key components of Polillo’s campaign.

With the recent closure of Northwood Pulp creating concerns about the city’s future industrial assessment and tax revenues, Polillo said Prince George must continue aggressively pursuing investment opportunities.

“I believe we’re on that path already and I want to continue that work as council,” he said.

He pointed to several recent investment announcements as evidence that Prince George remains attractive to businesses, including FedEx’s decision to establish operations in the city and Vitreo Minerals’ decision to relocate its head office from Calgary to downtown Prince George.

According to Polillo, those projects demonstrate the city’s strengths, including available industrial land, affordability and strategic location.

“We have to be aggressively marketing Prince George and really sell the benefits of what Prince George has,” he said.

Polillo highlighted the Boundary Road industrial area as a key asset, noting that fully serviced industrial land is available and ready for development. He said city leaders must continue working to attract employers that will broaden the local economy and help offset losses from traditional industries.

“We have to diversify our economy and hopefully that will offset some of the tax revenue we’ve lost with the Northwood closure,” he said.

Throughout the campaign, Polillo has emphasized what he calls a “Positive Prince George” approach. He believes residents, businesses and elected officials should actively promote the city’s strengths rather than focusing exclusively on its challenges.

“Prince George is a great place to live, work and invest,” he said.

While acknowledging issues such as public safety, homelessness and infrastructure pressures, Polillo said communities succeed when they market themselves effectively and embrace future opportunities.

“Oftentimes we are our own worst critics,” he said.

Looking ahead, Polillo sees significant economic opportunities on the horizon, including major regional industrial developments and resource-sector investments that could generate benefits for Prince George. He believes the city is well positioned to strengthen its role as northern British Columbia’s industrial and logistics hub.

“We have an incredible opportunity,” he said. “With the right plan and the right vision and the right attitude, we can really be successful in attracting that investment.”

Polillo argues that continued economic growth will help the city expand its tax base while providing the resources needed to maintain aging infrastructure and support future community projects.

Election day in Prince George is Saturday, Oct. 17.

Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your inbox every evening.

—

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com

by Adam Berls

Incumbent councillor Ron Polillo seeks second term focused on growth, stability and downtown revitalization

What's Trending