My Motivation

My primary motivation for running is to move Medicine Hat forward and make the City once again a vibrant, growing community where industry wants to locate and provide well-paying jobs. 

When I read my grandfather’s journal about how he homesteaded south of Elbow, Saskatchewan, in the 1900s and lived in a sod house, I realize how much the generations before us worked towards improving life so we can enjoy our lives today. In the last few years, Medicine Hat has faced some challenges, but I believe the Hatters are a strong, committed group, and if we work together, we can make “The Hat” the preferred place to live in Alberta.

Here are some of the approaches I will take:

• I would like the council to remain apolitical in provincial and federal politics, focusing solely on what will make Medicine Hat a better place. We need to stop fighting each other and fight for Medicine Hat.

• I would assemble teams of councillors and senior Administrators to travel, making appointments with Ministers that could beneficially affect the city, and canvass on behalf of the city to maintain awareness of its issues. This would be an annual process, and after elections, we can not be passive and wait for someone to come to us.

• Help set up targets for city projects on what success looks like before we start a project, so it can be measured before we start. Not just statements such as “a vibrant downtown.”

• As the only full-time member, supply the council with as much information and assistance as required before meetings to assist them in their positions.

• Make regular communications with the public to keep in touch with the public and host quarterly “Town Hall Meetings.”

• Make contact with Local Businesses to see what they require to be successful and expand, and ask what complementary businesses the city should try to attract.

• Work with the council and the CAO to ensure that city projects are planned and run most efficiently, unlike the experience of 2nd and 3rd St downtown.

  
  

Organizing an informed public referendum on the MCC. Holding open forums to help explain the positives and negatives of this project. This is the most significant decision in the city's history, and all citizens should have a say. We require a final resolution to this issue, as it continues to resurface.