THUNDER BAY – Chances are if you’ve been to an event in Thunder Bay, taken your kids to hockey or played a game of slow pitch, you know Chris Krumpholz.
Krumps, as he's affectionately known, is everywhere.
He’s hoping to add city hall to his resume.
A sales and inventory analyst at Shaw Communications who also works security and as an on-ice official, the 41-year-old Krumpholz is one of 26 candidates seeking one of five seats in the 2018 at-large competition on Oct. 22.
The lifelong Thunder Bay resident said he truly believes there’s a lot of things the city could be doing, but isn’t, for a variety of reasons.
First and foremost is the disconnect between administration, city council and the public. This has to change, he said.
“People feel they’re not listened to,” Krumpholz said. “The old people feel they’re being ignored and the status quo. The young people aren’t listened to at all. So it’s an opportunity to try to stimulate people, get them off the bench and into the game and hopefully we can get people working back together.”
Asked what issues people are most concerned about ahead of the municipal election, Krumpholz said crime and public safety are top of mind.
The public also seems to be divided on the need for a safe-injection site, a project put on hold by newly elected Premier Doug Ford.
But it starts with taking care of people first, he said.
Everyone matters.
“I think we have a huge amount of people in Thunder Bay who are hungry, that don’t eat. And there’s no reason we can’t take care of them,” Krumpholz said.
“We all donate to stuff ... but we can start taking care of our own.”
He’s a huge advocate of neighbourhoods coming together as one. It works on many levels, in particular when it comes to safety.
“Imagine if you get a block of people together? ... “Now you’ve got seven or eight people talking and listening to you. They all work together, they all know each other’s business and it’s a great thing because they’re watching each other’s backs,” Krumpholz said.
“If we can help assist people and motivate people to act on their intentions, I think we can really help Thunder Bay get back on track.”
