Skip to content

Division 8 councillor to seek second term

After one term on County council, Division 8 Councillor Hopeton Louden has announced his intention to run for re-election this fall.
Rocky View County Division 8 Councillor Hopeton Louden will run for re-election this fall.
Rocky View County Division 8 Councillor Hopeton Louden will run for re-election this fall.

After one term on County council, Division 8 Councillor Hopeton Louden has announced his intention to run for re-election this fall.

In three years on council, Louden said he has been encouraged, challenged and has learned a great deal about policies, government and human nature.

“The mind seems to integrate information best through the challenge,” said Louden. “This has been a challenge because of the changes in the region and, I believe, worldwide in how politicians are viewed.”

Serving on the various boards and committees, such as the Emergency Services Advisory Committee, Calgary Regional Partnership and the Bearspaw/Glendale Recreation District board, has offered Louden some of his greatest rewards.

In particular, he has enjoyed representing and interacting with his constituents in the Bearspaw area, where he has lived and raised his children for more than 20 years.

“To have served them and to be able to respond to their concerns in relation to what the County has done or not done has been absolutely rewarding,” said Louden. “By nature, I am a serving person. I get my adrenaline from the rewards of serving others.”

Louden feels he has much more to learn and give.

“I am still learning,” said Louden. “(Rocky View) is an organization with a lot of wonderful potential, but it has challenges because of the shifting times.”

Louden feels he is getting better at his job.

“I am growing in my role and am absolutely, in my view, better in my role as a councillor than I was one year ago,” said Louden.

He is proud of the work he has done while on council, particularly in the area of long-term planning and budgeting.

“As a council, we have shifted focus,” said Louden. “We have a long-term budget plan. It is one of the reasons we are able to be so responsive to taxes, it allowed us to live within our means during a downturn.”

Despite these successes, Louden has found his job as councillor challenging in many ways.

As a former social worker specializing in counseling and mediation, Louden sees ongoing disagreements between council and West Rocky View residents as a failure.

“My big disappointment is the succession, as it has come under my watch,” said Louden. “It has challenged me as I am a person who seeks to bring people together. I am sad that it has happened.”

Although Louden readily admits council has failed in communicating its intentions and plans, he says some of the problems come from a lack of knowledge and misinformation.

Most difficult for Louden has been the personal attacks on his character.

“When I hear some of this other stuff, it hurts,” said Louden. “I function with integrity, that is part of who I am.”

Despite this rift, Louden believes the future of Rocky View is bright.

“I am absolutely excited about the future,” said Louden.

“We have a road map of the critical things to look at...I am positive that council has and will take steps towards communication and will have those wide open conversations about the angst people have had around development.”

If re-elected, Louden will urge council to increase dialogue with Rocky View residents.

“I think we need to look at other methods that would involve more of our residents,” said Louden. “It is not about the decision, it is about the input. How do you broaden that scope of decision and how do you bring in that diversity of views? I am particularly keen on making sure we do.”

In an attempt to gain more input, Louden has met with residents numerous times on several issues, including the Bearspaw Community Development Strategy.

“So far, we have a compilation of people’s ideas,” said Louden. “There is some serious community consultation yet to come.”

Louden says one of his greatest strengths is his ability to listen to others and incorporate their views into his decisions.

Louden says his decisions are based on the information he is given and reflect a long-term vision for the county. His goal is to solve issues related to growth, while maintaining the lifestyle of residents.

“The idea of the plan is not that it will happen tomorrow,” said Louden. “It is a visionary plan. You have to look at the big picture. You must be cognizant of where you want to go not only now, but also in the future. It is not about any one decision, it is about the little inching to get where you want to go.”

Louden says the strength of council is in its ability to debate. Once that argument is over, however, he says it is important for council to stand as one entity.

“At the end of the day, once the vote is made, you speak as one voice,” said Louden.

“The goal is to affect the future. To have the strength of an argument so truly you create change.”


Airdrie Today Staff

About the Author: Airdrie Today Staff

Read more


Comments


No Facebook? No problem.

Here is how you can stay connected to the Airdrie City View and access local news in your community:

Bookmark our homepage for easy access to local news.
Pick up a copy of our newspaper and read local news that you cannot get elsewhere.
Sign up for our FREE newsletters to have local news & more delivered daily to your email inbox.
Download our mobile icon to have access to our news right at your fingertips.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks