City loses an astute observer of local politics

Kamloops lost an astute observer of civic issues last week. Merlyn Bigham wasn’t quite a household name, but many knew of her c ommunity involvement and her views on politics via her letters to the editor.

She died last Thursday, March 25, at the age of 76. I don’t recall ever having met her, but I was certainly familiar with her opinions — her letters go back more than a decade.

While she commented on all manner of political and social issues, her favorite was City council. Indeed, I remember her giving the council of the day a ‘D’ within a few months of it taking office after the November 1999 election. I think (and hope) she saw some improvement after that.

Grading council was one of her favorite things. Sometimes, this newspaper would seek her out for her thoughts on those in office. She described Terry Lake as acting as if he were back at TRU lecturing to veterinary students. She thought Coun. Jim Harker had spent too much time around fire halls. John O’Fee was a bit of a know-it-all.

And she didn’t like Peter Milobar, feeling he hung back, coming in on issues too late.

Merlyn thought council should take a thorough look at water meters, explain them to the public, and hold another referendum if the City still thought they were a good thing. Bless you, Merlyn.

In a letter to the editor published Dec. 15, 2005, she wrote about her eventual demise: “Let that ‘good night’ take me and let me finally rest in peace. Let those who knew me remember me in the best possible way under whatever circumstances may have arisen.”

Merlyn Bigham’s insights into civic life will be missed.