A longtime face on town council is opting to switch his upcoming electioneering next month from municipal politics to the corridors of union power.
Jason Heistad, who has served the past 11 and a half years on council, surprised many last week by not filing nomination papers to run on Oct. 21 for a fourth consecutive term on town council.
Heistad, 42, has decided to pursue an opportunity with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE). For the past eight years Heistad, who is also employed as a student recruiter at Olds College, has served as an AUPE vice-president.
And now he has an opportunity to serve the union as its executive secretary-treasurer, which is an elected full-time position.
“I was at a crossroads and I wanted to be fair to the people of Innisfail because a lot of people have been so encouraging and supportive for the last 11 and a half years,” said Heistad. “I didn't want to do a half-ass job. I wanted to do a great job, and I always felt that I have done a great job.”
He said the break from municipal politics would help him decide which direction he wants to take for the rest of his working career.
“Am I going to be a municipal politician or a union leader, or is the future for me to run as an MLA, which is a question mark. I would love to do that someday in some manner,” said Heistad, whose union position will be decided by vote the same week as the Oct. 21 municipal election.
“I am basically campaigning provincially, getting out there and doing my best to garner support for this new role,” said Heistad, adding he wants to return to the “grassroots” level of working with people he was once accustomed to. “I thought about doing both again as I have done for eight years, but then I thought to be fair to the community and my family it is best I step down for now and possibly looking to the future as maybe continuing on as a town councillor.”
However, he added that while he would certainly entertain the thought of returning to council in the future his ambitions could be for the mayor's chair.
“I would love to do it. I love being with the people, getting to know them and being involved in projects. But going back to the grassroots may be the best for me for the next four years,” said Heistad. “I love the political stuff but I do miss going to a meeting and being engaged, being a volunteer and not people looking at me as a politician.”
The Oct. 21 civic election in Innisfail will see a wide-open race for town council. Current councillor Brian Spiller was acclaimed as mayor but along with Heistad, incumbents Tracey Walker and Derek Baird are also retiring.
Only incumbents Mark Kemball and Heather Taylor are seeking another term for council's six councillor seats. Hopefuls that filed nomination papers last week are Jim Humble, Doug Bos, Gavin Bates, Jack Kline, Jodi Desjardins, Patt Churchill and Danny Rieberger.
Advanced polling in Innisfail will begin Oct. 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Learning Centre at the Innisfail Public Library. It will continue the following day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An all-candidates forum will be held at the Learning Centre on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
