Bob Radloff pitches experience, safety and tax relief in council bid

Radloff spent approximately 18 years working for the City of Prince George, eventually serving as Director of Development and Operations. In that role, he oversaw a wide range of municipal functions, including development permits, engineering, building services and business licensing.

He believes that experience gives him an advantage over many first-time candidates.

“I didn’t learn city operations from sitting at council,” he said. “I grew up in the system and ultimately was managing about 60 per cent of the city’s operations.”

Today, Radloff works in the private sector helping promote and advance development projects, something he says gives him insight into both the municipal bureaucracy and the challenges faced by businesses and developers.

“I understand it from the inside and I also understand it from the outside.”

Like many candidates in this year’s election, Radloff pointed to concerns about crime, mental health and addictions in the downtown core as issues that demand immediate attention. He said residents from all walks of life are raising the same concerns.

“Everyone I meet, union leaders, business people, students, everybody. The number one issue is safety and the issue of mental health and addictions as it’s playing out on the streets in downtown.”

Radloff said the issue is particularly important to him because of both his professional and personal experiences.

As a business owner operating near the downtown core, he says he witnesses the impacts of social disorder daily.

“I am seeing all those impacts every day I go to work,” he said. “We have to make it safe for our citizens. Frankly, our citizens want their downtown back.”

Radloff also spoke candidly about how addiction has affected his own family. He revealed that his son died as a result of drug and alcohol issues, an experience that has shaped his views on the ongoing challenges facing the community.

“When you get that call at night and your son has passed away, you were hoping you’d never get that call, but you’re fearing it would come. I’m familiar with that.”

He said the tragedy allows him to understand the issue from multiple perspectives, both as a taxpayer and business owner concerned about public safety and as a family member who has experienced the devastating consequences of addiction firsthand.

“It’s personal for me on a very personal level.”

As part of his campaign, Radloff has launched a series of videos aimed at explaining municipal government and city operations in plain language. He said many issues council deals with are more complex than they initially appear, and he hopes to give residents a better understanding of how decisions are made.

“Sometimes people don’t understand all the nuances of every issue,” he said.

The videos will focus on topics such as road rehabilitation, development approvals and municipal bylaws, while also highlighting what he describes as successful city initiatives that provide value for taxpayers.

Radloff said one of the biggest financial challenges facing the city is the impending closure of Northwood’s pulp mill operations, which will remove a significant industrial taxpayer from the city’s tax base. To offset that loss, he believes council must focus on attracting new development and expanding the tax base.

“To reduce taxes, we either have to reduce expenditures or increase the tax base,” he said. “Increasing the tax base is what I’m interested in. Allowing people to build here, making way for development and showing that we can grow.”

At the same time, Radloff said council will need to examine spending priorities and take a closer look at major capital projects.

“The capital plan is a little bit bloated, to be honest with you,” he said, suggesting the city should consider reducing new capital spending by as much as $40 million annually.

Prince George voters will elect a mayor and eight city councillors on October 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

Bob Radloff pitches experience, safety and tax relief in council bid

What's Trending