DIDSBURY — First-term current town councillor Erhard Poggemiller has filed papers to run for mayor in October.
Poggemiller previously served 12 years as mayor and one year as councillor in the Town of Kerrobert, Sask., before moving to Didsbury five years ago. He was elected to Didsbury council in 2017.
Asked why he has decided to run for mayor in 2021, he said, “I think we need to have a little bit of a change in the way leadership is in town, and from past experience, I think I can provide that.”
Poggemiller says during his time as mayor of Kerrobert, he learned a lot about working with various levels of government and others.
“I learned how to negotiate with people and build relationships with other communities,” he said.
Working to bring a new hospital to Kerrobert was a highlight of his time as mayor there, he said.
“We had to raise $5 million for that, so we went around to do that,” he said. “And we had to negotiate with two governments and we had success in that.”
His one term as councillor in Didsbury has also provided good experience, he said.
“It has given me a lay of the land and to figure out what the politics are around here,” he said. “I’ve gotten to know a good number of people and I’ve also seen what needs to be done in town as far as infrastructure goes and things that could be used in this town and where we can build.”
Didsbury has an “amazing opportunity to move ahead in the future,” he said.
Promoting the town through support of the film industry will be one of his priorities if he is elected, he said.
As mayor, he would make use of the knowledge and experience of all members of council, he said.
“I would like to be able to enable people to come forward with great ideas and have us move together. I’m about building the community and building a team,” he said.
Poggemiller says he plans to complete his current term on Didsbury council.
Didsbury Mayor Rhonda Hunter has already announced plans to seek re-election in October.
