With no other candidates coming forward to fill the recently vacated Beiseker councillor position, 17-year resident Karen Ursu was acclaimed, Nov. 7.
Ursu is replacing former councillor Brenda Hnybida, who, after eight years of service, stepped down from the position several weeks ago for personal reasons.
“I am really looking forward to it. I think it will be very interesting,” said Ursu, who attended her first council meeting Nov. 14. “It is just time to step and time to put back into the community.”
Ursu, a mother of three, raised her children in the village and now has grandchildren attending the local school.
Ursu, 56, and her husband are also longtime business owners.
Her lengthy investment in the village has motivated her to step up to the position.
“Someone mentioned it to me and I thought, ‘well I do own a business here,’” she said. “We are concerned with the village.”
Ursu is also part of the Beiseker Quilters Guild, a community group that provides blankets to a number of charities including women’s shelters, Beiseker Community Links and Slave Lake fire victims.
Ursu, who was at first hesitant about making the commitment to council, is looking forward to seeing how municipal government works and learning the different village issues.
Mayor Bruce Rowe said he feels great about Ursu’s acclamation.
“Karen is a local business lady, her and her husband have been in business for as long as I’ve been in Beiseker, so I am sure she is going to do very well.”
Ursu said she is not motivated by any burning issues, and has been aware of the village’s politics, but not previously involved.
“I go with a clean plate, no agenda, no issues,” she said.
She expects the key topic of interest will be the ongoing high cost of water, main street beautification and the village’s infrastructure. Besides being an entrepreneur, Ursu has worked for Alberta Agriculture as a medical secretary.
Ursu said it may have been easier to be acclaimed than go through a campaign, but wishes others had stepped forward.
“It’s nice that I didn’t have to go through the whole process, except I would prefer that people had the choice,” she said.
“As a voter, I would have liked the choice.”
Rowe agreed that more than one candidate is preferred, but said acclamation can be a sign of community support.
“I always like to see some competition,” he said.
“(But) when you are acclaimed, it is endorsement of your capabilities.”
