With 20 years of experience working for municipal governments and plenty of time spent aiding non-profit groups, Kim Harris feels she is an ideal candidate in the Town of Crossfield’s Oct. 19 byelection.
Harris, who moved to Crossfield with her family 13 years ago, is a community developer for the City of Airdrie. She said her career has provided her familiarity with the Municipal Government Act, while her time spent on boards of various non-profit groups over the years has improved her leadership qualities.
“All those things lend themselves to a council role,” she said.
Considering a municipal election will be held in October 2021, whoever is elected in Crossfield’s upcoming byelection will have only one year to make an impact before voters return to the polls. With this short mandate in mind, Harris said her platform focuses on improving council’s transparency and accountability, as well as engagement with residents, businesses and non-profit groups.
“That year is spent learning your role on council, engaging the community, listening to them and their concerns to see what direction they want council to move in,” she said. “I also believe…that we have to show residents of Crossfield that council can be transparent, accountable and we have to put some tools and resources in place to do that in a better way.”
She added other platform points include improving community safety, supporting and attracting business, fiscal balance and accountability and committing to build a walkable, livable, welcoming town.
“I’m running for Town council because I love Crossfield,” she said. “It’s my home and I care about how Crossfield is developed and what happens here.”
The main issue facing the town, according to Harris, is the community’s growth.
“You want to promote growth and you want opportunities for everyone, but there’s a balance there too, with tax money and being accountable and fiscally responsible with how much growth you can allow to happen at a time," she said.
“And then, we have a few other issues in town. We’re going through a downtown redevelopment right now and have to see how that looks once it’s developed, to see if it’s suitable for Crossfield.”
Non-profit groups that Harris is involved with include the Crossfield Minor Hockey Association and Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, for whom she is organizing an annual conference. Previously, she used to help organize the Airdrie Regional Air Show and has also helped various local non-profits transition to formal societies over the years.
“I engage and facilitate non-profit groups, help them build capacity and assist them with development, financial grant-writing and all those types of things,” she said.
For more information on Harris, visit electkimharris.net or search Elect Kim Harris on Facebook.
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
