The bell has rung and the battle is on for mayor for this year's upcoming municipal election.
Incumbent Jim Romane, 67, has announced he is seeking reelection for mayor in the Oct. 21 election, which for the first time will see the mayor and councillors elected for four-year terms. And Romane will have company for the town's top job.
Brian Spiller, who will have served one term as town councillor, is throwing his hat in the ring. Meanwhile, two current long-term members – Derek Baird and Tracey Walker – have announced they will not seek re-election.
Romane said his campaign will focus on three primary issues: completing the three-phase $8.5 million Downtown Revitalization Project, moving to service the already adopted Master Service Plan for new commercial and industrial areas in the western and northern areas of town, and create a 10 to 20-year master plan for the town's parks and recreation facilities.
“I still feel I have things I want to finish. When I ran for mayor I had a goal to see through the Downtown Revitalization Plan,” said Romane, a retired hospitality businessman and former general manager of the Innisfail Golf Course. “I initiated that whole concept. It was so overwhelming to take on and I felt that services were falling apart and we had to bite the bullet.”
Romane said when the third $2.5 million phase is completed next year he wants to work closely with local businesses to maximize the benefits of the project, and to attract more local entrepreneurs into the revitalized downtown core.
He said the next important step for the town is to service more commercial and industrial land in the municipality's northern and western sections of town, noting Innisfail has now used up most of the existing designated areas for industrial expansion.
“It is going to become more and more urgent that we move into that,” said Romane. “We still have another year for the downtown project and we have to get rolling on this (industrial land servicing) in the near future. We have to get serious about a plan in that area, no later than 2015.”
The 647 acres of private land in the north, which stretches east from the C & E Trail to the QEII, was slated for a future business park in a 2002 and partly acquired in an Area Structure Plan that year. The rest was acquired through annexation in 2007.
Romane said another key priority is to create an overall master plan for the town's parks and recreation facilities for the next 10 to 20 years.
“There has been some discussion on this but I want something more in depth,” says Romane. “There is some room for expansion. There is more public input needed.”
Meanwhile, Spiller, 53, says it is time for a change at the top and that he is the right man for the job.
“I definitely have the time. I have been pressured and encouraged by my fellow councillors that they would prefer me there,” said Spiller, a retired dairy wholesaler.
He said he will run on a platform of “financial and fiscal responsibility” on whatever civic projects council wants to take on, and to ensure the third phase of the Downtown Revitalization Project is completed on time and on budget.
“Being a retired businessman I believe I have lots to add to the community,” said Spiller, adding his relative youth will be an advantage. “I'm younger (than Romane) and I bring a fresh perspective. I don't think he has done anything wrong but I do bring a different perspective.”
Spiller has already received the endorsement of Coun. Jason Heistad, who is “intending” on running for a fourth term in October if his family supports it during a planned discussion later this summer.
“I fully endorse Brian Spiller for his run for mayor. His attention to detail is second to none. And I have learned tons from him in the past three years.” said Heistad. “He is a great community leader.”
Meanwhile, Baird, who has been on council for the last five terms, said it is now time to “sit back and relax.
“I can finally have Monday nights off,” said Baird.
Walker said she has found the last nine years on council “extremely rewarding” but two factors came into play for her decision not to go for a fourth term.
“Its simply a matter of time for me to move on,” she said. “I've served our community well and I believe now is a good time for me to leave and I also know there are a lot of good candidates in our community that will have the time, passion and energy required.”
Coun. Heather Taylor added she would be running for a second term, feeling there are “things I'd like to see done in this town. “It has been a great experience. I am really enjoying it,” she said.
And Coun. Mark Kemball said he would also run for a second term, believing there is still more important work for him to do on council.
“I've done one term and have got my feet wet but there are still some things to do yet,” said Kemball, adding he is proud that council moved in the past three years to build a new fire hall and town shop without creating unnecessary debt. “I think we have done some great things and I really want to see the downtown revitalization project get finished.”
Nomination day in Innisfail is Sept. 23. Candidates will need to file their paperwork with the town's returning officer.
