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Irricana municipal election ask the candidates

Jim Bryson I choose to run to help make Irricana a better place to live and invest. Ted Coffey During my 20 years living here I have been asked to run several times. My employment kept me away frequently so I never ran, but now I can.

Jim Bryson

I choose to run to help make Irricana a better place to live and invest.

Ted Coffey

During my 20 years living here I have been asked to run several times. My employment kept me away frequently so I never ran, but now I can.

Debbie Day

I chose to run, because I felt that since I live in Irricana, I wanted to be more of a voice for the town citizens.

Nathanial Fleming

I decided to run for town council to experience municipal government, provide more options on the ballot and have a part in the operation of my town.

Frank Friesen

I chose to run again, because I believe the residents need a consistent voice on council. To me, it's never a good thing to replace all of council at once. It takes too long to get in-sync to start from scratch.

Mavis Hallman

I became a councillor in a byelection in April 2016. In that time, I have learned a lot but, more importantly, I learned that there is still a lot to learn.

I don't feel my job is done yet and hope people will continue to trust that I do consider their interests to be my top priority.

Kim P. Schmaltz

This four-year term is almost up and I have decided to gladly run again for council. I believe I have contributed significantly to the growth of Irricana.

As a long-time resident and a business owner, I have a vested interest in watching the town grow and flourish by encouraging entrepreneurs to start businesses in this town and offer a variety of services here.

Gregory Simpson

I've chosen to run for town council because my experience as a production manager seems to make me suitable as a council member. The job of production manager is very similar to being on a council, managing a small town.

Many of the same problems occur, such as budgeting, quoting, assuming responsibility for a job and following through until it is completed, figuring out how to do things in a better and more efficient manner.

Tracy Shields

Tracy Shields is running for Irricana Council. She and her family have lived in Irricana for the last 10 years and love the town.

Jim Bryson

I would seek to lower municipal taxes as well as actively promote both industrial and residential development of Town-owned lands.

Ted Coffey

The difference I would bring is that I question expenditures made by town council. Town councils seem to find it far too easy to spend other people's money.

Debbie Day

I would like to see more participation and input from the town, and for the town to be heard.

Nathanial Fleming

What I would do differently would depend on who I was being compared to as we have a lot of different styles represented on council at the moment. W

hat I would do if elected is treat the position like the job it is. I feel a professional approach inside and outside the chambers is needed.

Frank Friesen

I will pretty much be the same councillor I was during my last term - keep asking the right questions for the residents, keep holding council accountable for the decisions and make sure we have all the facts before any decisions is made.

Mavis Hallman

We need to make council, administration and residents work together as a team to successfully make Irricana a place people are proud to call home. We need to promote the feeling of community so we can attract new residents and businesses to make Irricana grow and prosper.

Kim P. Schmaltz

I have always been an advocate for land development. Before I was on council, Irricana was land poor and was almost stagnant in growth. In the first six months of my term, a plot of land on the south side was purchased and we partnered with Amasco for residential housing that is well on its way to building about 60 or so fine, single-family homes. Part of the purchase of the southwest land has been set aside for a school reserve, which is also very exciting for our young families.

Tracy Shields

Tracy values honesty, willingness to learn and common sense and would bring these traits to the table.

Gregory Simpson

I believe my first priority would be to look at the budget and see why the Town has overspent in the last several years. Maintaining a budget comes first in the overall organization of a town or company and opens several options once you do maintain it. I believe a closer working relationship with the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and the employees of the Town will put a better light on where we are under or overstaffed, and where we can adjust to become more efficient and accomplish more while staying in budget.

Jim Bryson

Hiring a qualified CAO who is committed to the town, lowering the municipal taxes, ensuring our residents are getting value for their tax dollars spent.

Ted Coffey

My top issues are taxes, business taxes and (the) revolving door of short-term, unqualified CAO's that Irricana has been plagued with.

Debbie Day

Taxes, bring new business to town and, most of all, support the new business that come here - that is from some of the people who I have met on my door to door visit.

Nathanial Fleming

Three issues off the top of my head I would like to address: hire a permanent CAO, or if one is hired before the next council, work to develop and maintain the person in that role. Adjust the new zoning bylaw and then pass it. As much as it is needed, as it stands now (first reading) a lot of people will be affected by the clause on fining derelict vehicles. I would like to see what we can do about regaining access to the waste transfer site or at least work out an alternative.

Frank Friesen

The biggest issue Irricana faces is the CAO position. The revolving door has to stop. We need a CAO who will be here for the long-term. This goes back to consistency. I can't go into details, but progress is being made.

Mavis Hallman

More development, both commercial and residential. Improve spending so we can lower the tax burden on both residents and business. Keep trying to make communication between residents and council easier and more streamlined so council can stay in touch with the issues.

Kim P. Schmaltz

I have also been a voice of encouragement for the Town to find common sense and economical solutions. Roughly in the second year of my term, the library was moved from the recreational center to an updated centralized location that brings vibrancy to our main street. This allows the library more square footage for books and computers, as well as meeting rooms that the old location could not accommodate.

Tracy Shields

Tracy wants to be in a position to make a difference in the town and bring a fresh perspective to existing concerns such as property taxes, the constant turnover of the CAO and making the budget more accessible and specific.

Gregory Simpson

I think the first thing is to get the budget under control. This is not a quick fix but will take time to go over, make recommendations and put some of them into effect.

My next issue would be to look at the business and property taxes. If the budget can be controlled, then I believe we can maintain, at the very least, and possibly reduce some of these cost to the people of Irricana.

Lastly, I would like to make Irricana more accessible to business opportunities as well as affordable housing and try to increase the town in that area.

Jim Bryson

People should vote for me as I am committed to making Irricana a better place to live.

Debbie Day

I am a very dedicated person, loyal, and I will really try to do my very best to serve the people of Irricana.

Nathanial Fleming

I feel people should vote for me because I will work diligently and professionally for the best interests of Irricana regardless of who will sit with on council or what the topic is.

Frank Friesen

I want people to vote for me because, as stated before, I will continue to be their voice. The residents deserve loyalty, consistency and honesty. I was that in this last term, and I plan on being the same again.

Ted Coffey

I want people to vote for me because I want to take fewer taxes from them and spend it wiser.

Mavis Hallman

Because I have been a resident for 36 years and being an active volunteer in the community, I believe I am approachable and dedicated to making Irricana a place that people will want to live in. In the brief time I have been on council, we have completed some projects that had been stalled, started and completed some badly needed repairs to Town-owned buildings and roads, revised several policies and bylaws, and made some headway in attracting commercial development. I feel I still have a lot to offer and am committed to doing just that. My job is not done yet and I hope I get the opportunity to prove that.

Kim P. Schmaltz

Among other contributions, I have sat on various committees that including the cenotaph committee, which I am especially proud of.

During these past four years, I believe I have developed a strong ear for what is important for the residents here. I am approachable and available to you in person at the post office Monday to Thursday, or by email [email protected] for any questions, concerns, or just drop by for a coffee.

Tracy Shields

Tracy believes that being available to the townspeople and listening, learning and explaining will encourage conversations and will ultimately help to get new ideas flowing.

Gregory Simpson

Being a production manager for many years has given me the ability to examine any kind of problem, debate the pros and cons and jointly come up with a better solution than what is currently in place. I am a problem solver and have been for more than 10 years at my current position. I will be living and raising my grandchildren in Irricana for years to come and I believe I can help the town.

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