Justin Gustafson has thrown his hat into the Crossfield byelection.
A 16-year resident of Crossfield, Gustafson said his platform is based on council transparency.
“I ran for mayor in 2017 and didn’t get in,” he said. “I thought it would be a good time to get back in and try to regain the residents’ trust back in council. It’s about accountability, education and transparency.”
After calling Crossfield home for nearly two decades, Gustafson said he feels it is important to run to ensure the town can continue to grow in a way that supports the lifestyles of residents.
“I love Crossfield,” Gustafson said. “I just want to see it grow into a nice vibrant community that is good for families.”
After raising a son in Crossfield, Gustafson said the community provided a number of excellent experiences for his family and was a great place to grow up. He wants Crossfield to remain an excellent place to raise children.
“That is why I want to get into council,” he said. “We need to make sure our council is accountable to voters and residents.”
Gustafson said he believes his tenure as a business owner in the area since 2004 would make him a good councillor. He ran Warrior Equipment, an oil and gas rental company, until 2012 when the company was sold.
“I base all of my decisions on facts,” he said. “When you’re running a company, all decisions have to be made based on facts. It is an easy bridge between business and council in that way.”
Gustafson is also president of the Alberta Elks Club in Crossfield. The club focuses on various volunteer efforts to give back to the community and has donated funding to Collicutt Siding Golf Club, W.G. Murdoch School, Crossfield Elementary School, Kids Up Front and numerous other community groups.
“The greatest thing you can give back to the community is your time, energy and ideas,” said Gustafson. “It’s by far the greatest thing a resident can do for their community.”
If elected, Gustafson said he’ll use the single year of his term to build trust between residents and council before the next municipal election in 2021.
“I live here as well,” he said. “I like creating happiness and prosperity for our town.”
He added he hopes people will turn out and vote to have their voices heard in the Oct. 19 byelection.
“Put your vote forward and make it count,” he said.
