It's been half a year since the latest city elections, and after some changes, the new mayor is settling into his role. Tony Sernick was elected to the position back in November, following four years on the Estevan City Council.
Sernick says that as the past few months have unfolded in his new position, the work has been keeping him busy.
"So far, so good. It's only been six months, but there's a lot happening. So much happens every day. Council's coming together. We're getting to know each other. We've been through a SUMA conference. We've been through a little bit, so that's most important."
Moving from councillor to mayor has seen some changes for Sernick, as he says he's dealing with a different amount of pressure in the role.
"It's night and day from the time you spend, that's for sure. Councillor, you know, you're involved in everything, but the mayor's involved in everything, whether it be provincial politics or just visitors to our city or anything. You're the ambassador, and you have to represent your city. Obviously, as a councillor, you're doing the same thing, but it's just on a different stage. When you get the opportunity to bring eyes to Estevan, you have to do it in a positive way. So far, so good, and that's the goal."
Over the first year of his term, Sernick says his priority is listening to the community and seeing what they can improve over the next three years.
So far, he's been pleased with some of the recent developments from provincial governments and private industry.
"We've had a few good announcements already so far. So hopefully any of these come to fruition, and that's rebuilding our coal fleet, SMRs are coming, and coal to graphite -- there are so many great things happening."
Saskatchewan has been a busy place electorally, with a provincial, municipal, and federal election all taking place within the last eight months. While they've been happening, Sernick has made it his priority to keep an eye on people's priorities through those elections.
"You take everything into account. Try to follow everything, obviously, on social media. It's a tool to get a pulse of what's going on in your community as well as provincially and federally."
"We're kind of done with elections, hopefully, for the next little bit. Obviously, in Canada, we had a federal election where, I think the West wanted change. But yet again, the East said 'no thank you' to that change. But again, we got a little bit of stability. We know who the government's going to be."
Now that the election season has come and gone, he said he is ready to advocate for Estevan, regardless of who's in power. "For being as the mayor of Estevan, I don't really care what colour is in there, to tell you the truth. We're going to find the decision makers and get that federal funding [to] flow into our city, right?"
Following the municipal election, three new members were added to the Estevan City Council, who have been learning more about the role. Sernick has been giving them advice, leaning on his past position as a councillor.
"The only advice I've given them so far is just be patient. Obviously, you come in, not that anybody was trying to change the world, but you're looking for results and stuff like that right away. Just bring the patience, do what you can do, and don't let the outside pressure of things get to you. "
"We do have four years to get things done. This first year, we can identify a lot of situations and come together as a council. Obviously, we campaign on our own. As a councillor, you are sitting there on your own, you get one vote. But there's times when you have to come together as a team. The synergy with this council of defining when it's time to go on your own or be part of the team, right? So, so far, so good."
Sernick says that moving forward, there'll be more public engagement to figure out what they need to work on in the coming years.
"You see us out in the public more, and that seems to be a goal of everybody is communication and transparency. You hear those words quite a bit, but it's just getting out there."
Sernick says he wants himself and the wider council to hear from the city more in the new term.