Creston’s mayoral race has its first contender, with Councillor Denise Dumas announcing Wednesday that she will run for the town’s top job.
Dumas is serving her first term on council and said she wants to build on the work accomplished over the past four years.
“The more involved I’ve become, the more I’ve realized how much I enjoy this work,” she said.
“I care deeply about our community and its future. I believe we have tremendous opportunities ahead of us, and I want to help lead our community through the next chapter with integrity, collaboration, and commitment to good governance.”
Dumas is the daughter of former Mayor Ron Toyota, who held the role for 14 years.
Dumas pointed to several accomplishments from the current council term, including the creation of the Creston Valley Housing Corporation, the establishment of a Situation Table, the launch of Emergency Management Creston and the Development of the Creston Valley Airport Master Plan.
She said housing stands out as one of the most significant initatives undertaken by the current council.
“While housing is not traditionally under local government jurisdiction, town council recognized the need for attainable housing and chose to be part of the solution,” she said.
If elected, Dumas said collaboration and respectful discussion would be the centre of her approach.
“I bring a combination of leadership, hard work, and strong dedication to the community,” she said. “One of my strengths is bringing people together, and I believe good decisions come from listening to different perspectives and creating space for respectful discussion.”
She said she views the mayor’s role as helping council work through issues while ensuring residents feel heard.
“We won’t always agree on every issue, but I want people to know that they will be heard and respected. My goal is to help build a culture where different perspectives are valued and where we continue to work together for the benefit of our entire community.”
Dumas is the first person to formally announce a bid for mayor ahead of the Oct. 17 municipal election.
Incumbent Mayor Arnold DeBoon has not indicated whether he plans to seek another term.
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