Thanks for Visiting!

I am asking for your vote and hope to be elected as a councillor for the Town of Oliver this October 17. Although I have never been elected to a position in government before, I believe I would bring much-needed experience to this position, since I served as Municipal Manager (CAO) for the Town of Oliver for 24 years, from 1990 until I retired on 2014. During that time, I worked collaboratively with and for nine different councils, under the leadership of six different mayors. Since retirement, I have been called back to the Town three times in acting roles to fill temporary vacancies in key management positions. 

So, why is that experience important now? Current councillor, Aimee Grice, is running for the vacant mayor's position. The other three current councillors have all decided not to seek re-election. So, all four of the Town councillor positions are up for grabs this year, to be filled by new-comers to local government.

In addition, the current CAO (Chief Administrative Officer) is new in their position. 

Setting policies and priorities for local government faces competing challenges as I outlined on the Challenges page on this website. With my previous experience working for the Town, I believe I would serve an important and knowledgeable role in decision-making, and bringing new council members up to speed on the operations and corporate history of the municipality.

Oliver is in my blood. I was born and raised in Oliver, graduating from SOSS fifty years ago. After earning my Master of Engineeing degree at UBC and working for the City of Vancouver Engineering Department for nine years, our family returned to Oliver in 1990 and have lived here ever since, raising our four kids. My full history (with pictures!) is laid out the History page.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please free to contact me using the form on the Contact page, or drop me an email at szalay4council@telus.net . If you are seeking a reply, I will get back to you as soon as I can. I am also posting my answers on the Replies page for everyone's information.