BONITA ZARRILLO
Age: 47
Occupation: employment agency owner
Coquitlam resident: 4 years
Campaign funding: union and developers
Current city committees: none
Council meetings attended this year: 6
Bonita Zarrillo says she decided to run because there's a gap on city council in terms of diversity. "I believe our residents deserve a broader representation," she said, referring to gender, age, family make-up, life stage and community longevity.
Having moved to Coquitlam about four years ago from Montreal, Zarrillo said she has a different take than other candidates about how the community should operate. "I do have experience outside of Coquitlam that will enhance the current council," she said.
Zarrillo said she's door-knocking every day and is hearing from residents about Riverview, property taxes and a developer's proposal for a quarry on Burke Mountain. She started to go to council meetings this year because "I'm new to this community and it's important for me to understand the issues if I want to get involved."
If elected, Zarrillo plans to make Coquitlam more affordable "by getting into the budget," she said. "I'm an analyst by trade I think we really need to control the spending because that is what I'm hearing on the doorstep."
As for Riverview, Zarrillo said residents want it to be a mental health facility, in part, and to keep the arboretum.
Contact: 778-960-5836 (phone); [email protected]; Bonita Zarrillo (Facebook); @bonitazarrillo (Twitter); Bonita Zarrillo (LinkedIn)
