After hinting quite strongly that he would stand for election in the coming by-election to fill Bob McWhinnie’s seat, Mick Henningson has formally announced his candidacy.

Henningson, who sat on Council from 2002 to 2005, says he believes he now has the time to serve well.

“After the three year term on council, ending in November of 2005, I did not stand for re-election because of my commitment as President of the Sullivan Mine & Railway Historical Society. Development of the Sullivan Mine Interpretive Centre was a major undertaking, the successful completion of which would be an important addition to Kimberley tourism attractions,” Henningson said.

Now that the project has been completed on time and on budget, he has time to fully engage the workload of an effective City Councilor, he says.

“An additional reason for my renewed candidacy is the urging and encouragement that I am receiving from many Kimberley citizens. My only regret is that the by-election was made necessary by the unfortunate and untimely passing of Bob McWhinnie.”

Henningson has a long history in Kimberley and with Teck Cominco. He served as General Manager of Kimberley Operations, beginning in 1987.

At that time, Henningson says he assisted the City begin the transition from resource to tourist town.

“One of the first major projects was the creation of a summer anchor to compliment the ski hill, namely, the Trickle Creek Golf Course. I was able to facilitate the release of Cominco owned lands for this development. To further advance this important Kimberley attraction, I accompanied Mayor Jim Ogilvie to Ottawa to successfully solicit Federal Government financial support, then matched by the Province, thereby making construction of this new golf course possible.

Later appointed as Vice President of Canadian Mines, and even later as Teck-Cominco Senior Vice President, Mines, Henningson says he was able to facilitate community projects such as he donation of the Camp Stone lands to the Boy Scouts, the sale of Cominco lands to the Kimberley Golf Club, and the environmental clean-up and sale of additional Teck-Cominco lands for the Boot Leg Gap Golf Course. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Forest Crowne Housing Development, and the exchange of Cominco land within the Nature Park, primarily for disturbed Crown Lands around old mine workings.

And of course there was the Sullivan Underground Interpretive Centre. Henningson was instrumental in leveraging a $.15 million commitment from Teck Cominco, as well as provincial and federal funds for this project.

All these skills and experience add up to someone who would serve as an effective Councillor,’ he said.

“I sincerely ask for your support and vote on April 24th.”