Q. Why are you running for mayor/council?
A. I am running for City Council because I love Moose Jaw, and my passion is to serve. I believe I was born to serve and possess a strong desire to provide excellent and quality services to citizens. I am seeking another opportunity to do that in my own community to make life better for all of us now, and for future generations.
Q. Do you have experience in public service/community boards/politics?
A. I have been working in public service for over 16 years leading and delivering services such as road repair, winter maintenance, and large capital programs to maintain and renew the critical transportation infrastructure that we rely on every day. It was also my extreme privilege to serve on MJ City Council from 2016-2020 and I’m very proud of the accomplishments we made in economic development, tourism, and enhancing services in our community.
Q. Do you think experience matters one way or another?
A. I believe experience in a municipal government is so important because you need to understand how important it is to listen and act on behalf of citizens. The services that a city provides impact everyday life, and we are all passionate about the things that impact our lives. We need a City Council that works for us and takes the issues that affect us seriously, and I will strive to bring that mindset to City Hall.
Q. What topic/policy issue/incident was the tipping point for you?
A. After serving on MJ City Council and deciding to not seek re-election in 2020, I have felt a void in my life and hoped to return when the time was right. There isn’t really a tipping point, however I have witnessed some division in the community over the last year in dealing with some challenging issues. I will collaborate with City Hall and community leaders to find a balance that supports the needs of all, and I am committed to doing that.
Q. What criticisms do you have, if any, for the politics you've seen over the last two or three years?
A. I want to thank our current Council for their contributions. I reflect on the exciting time I was last elected to Council, and we had a vision to pursue economic development opportunities, promote and increase tourism, and enhance services in our community. I feel like that has been missing over the last four years, and I want to be part of a Council that puts those things at the forefront and puts Moose Jaw back on the map.
Q. What is your plan to compromise/cooperate with fellow council members to accomplish policy goals?
A. I have learned through my leadership and political roles in public service that communication and collaboration are essential to accomplish a vision or a goal. I understand that a Councilor or a Mayor only has one vote, so it is so critical that I work with colleagues on Council, employees at City Hall, and community members to find good solutions and make decisions that benefit us all.
Q. What else do you want voters to know about you?
A. I spent my career working to make life better for citizens because I truly care about what you think. I love being able to make a difference in someone’s life, and I want to make a difference in Moose Jaw. I am grateful to be part of such a great community and would love another opportunity to serve you. I’ve demonstrated this in my career, and my time on Council, and I commit to working hard to represent you at City Hall.
Q. In the interests of transparency, are you coordinating or do you share an association with any other candidates, in any way whatsoever?
A. No, I am not coordinating with any other candidate, nor do I share an association with any other candidate.
A candidates forum is taking place on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Centennial Auditorium at Peacock Collegiate. The forum will be livestreamed on Discover Moose Jaw.
Discover Moose Jaw will also have full coverage of the municipal election on Nov. 13.
For further municipal election coverage visit our election page.