After the resignation of two-term councillor Jason Harvey in early April, Crossfield was left with an empty seat on council, a chair Shawn Vang hopes to fill after the June 1 byelection.
Vang, who is running for council for a second time, has been a part of the community for close to four decades.
“I’ve seen the growth and changes,” Vang said in an email to Rocky View Weekly. “The good and bad.”
“I’m passionate about the town and want to see it thrive and grow but not lose the small town appeal.”
Vang currently works in an overnight role with the Real Canadian Superstore.
He has also volunteered in the community, working with the fire department for 23 years, as well as the Alberta Elks Foundation. In addition, Vang has served as Sergeant-at-Arms with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 113 in Crossfield.
“My volunteer work has allowed me to see what needs doing,” Vang said. “(I) also have heard what the citizens I have interacted with have to say, what they would like see or what they would like to have done.”
During his first campaign for council in 2013, Vang narrowly missed out on a seat losing by only four votes to Councillor Hadi Feltham.
“(It was) the closest race in the history of Crossfield,” Vang said.
The 43-year-old Vang said what he loves about Crossfield most is the small-town atmosphere and the people in the community.
Vang said his biggest priority is the aging infrastructure in Crossfield that needs to be upgraded or perhaps even replaced.
“I’d so like to see some sort of downtown revitalization,” he said. “Bring back the small-town feel we seem to be losing.”
Regarding the potential northwest development in Crossfield that may start this fall, Vang believes people need to be informed better.
“It has a lot of people upset,” said Vang, advocating a mission to “constantly keep the citizens of Crossfield informed about what is going on and put a stop to the misinformation out there.”
The Crossfield byelection takes place June 1. In addition to Vang, Devon Helfrich and Mike Perry are running to become the new Town councillor.
