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September 25, 2014 - 11:28 AM
KELOWNA - A strong business backgound is what the former general manager and partner in Kelowna's Hotel Eldorado says he can bring to the table if elected to Kelowna City Council.
Brad Sieben was born and raised in Kelowna and says the perspective he would bring to the job of councillor is well rounded and diverse. His association with Hotel Eldorado ran from 2003-14. Prior to that he worked for two multi-national corporations and taught high school in the Central Okanagan School District.
Hotel Eldorado was a family-run business, something Sieben went into as partner with his father-in-law. The family put their sweat into rebuilding it.
“My father-in-Law, Jim Nixon, is the consummate entrepreneur and took an idea and was able to move and re-build the Eldorado. Having had the opportunity to lead a family-business alongside Jim, Kyle, Carolyn and Karlee, my wife; I know the importance of making strategic investments to help drive revenue while remaining diligent in controlling your costs. Good fiscal management is essential,” Sieben says in a media release.
The family has since sold the hotel and now Sieben wants to direct his energy into municipal politics.
“I guess you could say that the timing is right,” Sieben says. “With the sale of our business, the retirement of veteran councillors and the momentum in the direction of city council, I decided that I wanted to stand up and get involved now.”
Sieben says he has also supported the business community in various roles. He is the former chair of Tourism Kelowna’s board of directors, has served on the Advisory Board of Directors for the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, Kelowna Hotel Motel Association as well as been a committee member for the Canadian Culinary Championships, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Convention Centre Task Force, and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Marketing Committee.
“I want Kelowna to keep moving forward,” Sieben says. “We need to make decisions based on what is best for this community for both immediate results and long term planning.”
The married, father of three children — ages nine, five and one — says he has a vested interest in Kelowna’s future development and success.
“I want to make a difference in my community. This is where I was born, where I grew up, where I choose to raise my family and where I have been involved in business. I want Kelowna to be a place where my children have opportunities when they are adults.”
If elected, Sieben will focus on moving the Official Community Plan forward. The Official Community Plan provides an outline for the growth of the local economy, improving public transportation, enhancing public safety, increasing urban densification working towards greater sustainability, and providing better access to recreation, health, arts and culture.
“To be a good councillor I believe you need to listen to the public, use good judgement, common sense, and then be decisive and get things done. The ability to execute the plan is what I believe sets people apart from one another.”
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014