Q. Why are you running for mayor/council?
A. I am running for council because it has been a desire of mine to be involved in politics and to effect positive change for our community. I see a lot of unrealized potential and I want to see it come to fruition. I also feel a sense of duty as a lifelong citizen to be the change that I want to see. We have a lot of challenges facing us as a city and I have a lot of ideas for tackling them. So I want to do more than just comment from the sidelines and/or throw shade to minimal effect.
Q. Do you have experience in public service/community boards/politics?
A. I've been active in anti-discrimination and human rights advocacy for years, both on social media, and more recently as a member of MJ RADAR, a local anti-discrimination group. I'm presently a shop steward and Vice-President for my union lodge executive and have held the grievance co-chair position in previous years. I was a part of the recent Cultural Development Planning Committee. I'm currently the Vice-Chair for the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery and was the Treasurer last term. I'm a past Kinsmen Club member, where I held the titles of Registrar and Social Media Coordinator during my time there.
Q. Do you think experience matters one way or another?
A. I think that experience can be helpful, but you don't gain experience by sitting and watching. Every politician started as a newbie and developed from there. I think that more than anything, being willing to do what is necessary to learn how to best meet the needs of our city and implementing effective strategies to do so is what ultimately matters. I make it a point to learn how our city works and to talk to people around town about what they need from their government. Having those points of view in mind is key to addressing those needs. You don't need experience to be effective. You just need to be willing to learn and do the work.
Q. What topic/policy issue/incident was the tipping point for you?
A. My main tipping point for years has been putting wants ahead of needs and rushing into projects without proper long-term planning. Watching taxes go up and up but seeing us struggle to get our infrastructure and services to acceptable levels has been a source of motivation to seek election. We need to make sound fiscal decisions and give taxpayers tangible results for the money that they pay. We have to start taking time to do things right, and make sure that the long-term fiscal impact isn't going to handcuff future councils and cause perpetual financial strain for taxpayers.
Q. What criticisms do you have, if any, for the politics you've seen over the last two or three years?
A. I think that we have a lot of work to do on prioritizing. We need tax reform to promote consistency and fairness and make it easier for people and businesses to set up and thrive here. We have a lot of major infrastructure needs. We need serious and effective poverty and homelessness reduction strategies, and we need to optimize city services. All of this needs to be done in a manner that is fiscally responsible, because we have lingering budgetary restraints from past projects which limit us currently.
Q. What is your plan to compromise/cooperate with fellow council members to accomplish policy goals?
A. I think that finding common ground and being willing to engage in good faith will be key to us making positive change for our city. I plan to prioritize working to get those common goals hammered out. The polarizing issues will be easier to work through when we establish that we can work together to get good policies passed for Moose Javians.
Q. What else do you want voters to know about you?
A. My general ethos involves making decisions that will benefit the most people possible, while harming the fewest people possible. Ideally, all policy would be 100% positive for everyone, but that's not realistic, so my goal is the best possible outcome. I want to work harder to secure more federal and provincial funding to take the strain off of our municipal tax base. It's expensive enough out there right now without having to eat more and more municipal tax hikes. We need to exhaust every avenue to help offset budgetary costs and capital expenditures.
Q. In the interests of transparency, are you coordinating or do you share an association with any other candidates, in any way whatsoever?
A. In a community like this, it's hard not to have any ties when you've been here your whole life. I've interacted with many of the incumbents and candidates as a member of various boards. I know several candidates from service organizations, playing rec. hockey, and from frequenting the same social and political circles. In terms of my campaign though, I'm an independent candidate. I'm willing to work with anyone who shares a desire to see our city prosper and grow, but I am not a part of any.
For further municipal election coverage visit our election page.