

Garry
Parker
Espoo
"Esbo needs first-class support services to: 1. employment opportunities through growth in inward investment, including international business; 2. Deliver high quality cultural and leisure activities; 3. Satisfy housing and sustainable planning demands. "
I trained as a lawyer in the United Kingdom moving to Finland in 2006. I was active in local government as a City Councillor in the UK. My family business background is in wood furniture making / specialist joinery - (yes, I rebuilt our own sauna). I founded the British and Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce in Finland Ry /Rf in 2008. I help businesses trade and invest between Finland and 56 Commonwealth countries. I sing tenor in two Swedish-speaking choirs. I am married with two grown up sons.
Important political topics
Culture and Leisure
Esbo needs more first class services supporting local and international cultural activities, including music, drama, fine arts and sports. A number of indoor and outdoor venues would benefit from a face-lift.
Economy & Business
Esbo is, to my mind, a very attractive place to start up and run a business both large and small. Attracting sustainable local and foreign direct investment is a priority in the fastest growing municipality in Finland. Ensuring excellent support services for businesses is an essential task for the City Council.
Sustainable and attractive planning
Esbo's fast growth poses great challenges for urban and rural planners. Balancing Esbo's Garden City history with increased key worker housing and business premises demands requires a more joined-up approach. The focus should be on creating and maintaining a great quality place to live, whilst delivering quantity and variety for residents - and all this while preserving a thriving natural environment.
Candidate's answers in election machine
1 / 14
We should build upwards rather than expand into new areas in Espoo.
2 / 14
Espoo is a safe city to live in.
3 / 14
Espoo provides sufficient services and support for young people.
4 / 14
Early childhood education should be free for everyone.
5 / 14
Schools should prioritize traditional textbooks over digital learning materials.
It depends on the subject. Mixed learning tools are best in my experience, but the balance should be left for teachers to decide with students / pupils.
6 / 14
One of the municipality’s most important tasks is to invest in sports facilities and opportunities for exercise and recreation.
Sports and culture funding need to be balanced, \'body and mind\'.
7 / 14
It is important to provide all residents with equal opportunities for cultural activities.
8 / 14
The municipality should introduce or improve opportunities for residents to influence how municipal funds are used through participatory budgeting.
If this is a cost effective way, and gives better value than now, then I\'m fine with it. Let\'s see!
9 / 14
The municipality should invest in public transportation.
Mass transit North-South needs to be balanced in line with East-West in Esbo/Espoo.
10 / 14
It should be possible to be a resident in more than one municipality, for example, through digital municipal citizenship.
Subject to fair division of taxation revenues between municipalities, and best value, I am not against this.
11 / 14
The municipality should better facilitate the expansion of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power.
Not only solar and wind, but also hydro and geothermal, plus bio-renewables.
12 / 14
The municipality should mix more housing types in planning than is currently the case.
30% social housing could be the standard to achieve.
13 / 14
The municipality should introduce anonymous recruitment.
Yes, this removes any potential for discrimination, at first instance. The City should lead by example.
14 / 14