Airdrie resident Kevin Galley hopes to bring his 35 years of municipal government experience to Airdrie City council in his bid for an alderman seat in Octoberís municipal election.
Galley works full-time for the City of Calgaryís Roads and Transportation Department, but he has called Airdrie home since 1998. He has been married for 27 years and has raised two children in Airdrie and is now looking to better the city as a member of council.
ìManaging the Cityís growth is a big issue for me,î said Galley. ìYou look at the 12,000 acres of land that the City annexed from the (Rocky View) County, Iím all for growth and expansion but it must be done in a smart way, we shouldnít be building just for the sake of building.î
For years, Galley has volunteered with the Airdrie Bicycle Motocross Club as well as the Airdrie Pro Rodeo.
ìIíve always been closely tied to helping people and doing the right thing for everyone around me,î said Galley.
A big part of Galleyís platform is based around local procurement (the purchase of goods, services and contracts required by the city of Airdrie). He believes the City should increase the percentage of services and products purchased from local businesses from what he says is the current level of 10 per cent.
ìThis city has most everything that it needs to run itself,î said Galley. ìIf we can get our procurement number up from 10 per cent to closer to 30, it will better support our local businesses and our local economy.î
When speaking of the work done by current council, Galley says aldermen have done a good job, but that it may be time to get some new voices and ideas on council.
ìOften times new people come in and they have great ideas and theyíre able to see them through and I think this council has done a good job with that,î said Galley. ìI think I can add a new perspective and some new input.î
As for the election, he hopes for a high level of citizen engagement and a strong voter turnout. In 2010, about 31.5 per cent of eligible voters (8,520 of about 27,000) cast their ballots.
ìIíve got a decal on the back windshield of my car that says elections are not a spectator sport,î said Galley.
ìI hope that people will get out to the polls and participate in the process.î
