Peter Waterman is a two-time Summerland councillor, who was notably the only one to oppose the controversial Agricultural Land Reserve land swap proposed by council this spring, is calling for a new conversation in the community.
He stated, “I will lead a new council that will listen and respectfully discuss issues with the public.”
Waterman, who has a background as a professional horticulturist and ran a successful apple and cherry business in Summerland for 16 years, pledged to bring a new culture to the council chambers.
“The Mayor sets the tone,” he said. “Our current council has done a number of projects that I am proud of, but it has been uninterested in listening to the community.”
The councillor noted that the overwhelming consensus of the community was against the land swap. The Advisory Planning Commission and the public in two public hearings we held were both strongly against the swap, but the rest of council did not listen!