Penhold's all-candidates election forum revealed a strong desire by the community to move away from fractious bickering and the resulting negative public image, and towards a more positive outlook for the future.
“I talked about all of the successes we've had as a community,” said Mayor Dennis Cooper, who is battling current councillors Chad Hoffman and Heather Klein for another term. “We've got a couple of negative things that seem to overpower the successes we have. We get hung up on the negatives and I think we have a lot of positive changes.”
The forum on Oct. 10 at the Penhold Memorial Hall featured the three mayor hopefuls, and 10 candidates for council's six councillor seats. Only one incumbent councillor, Kathy
Sitter, is running in the election. She is competing against Sharolyn Sanchez, Ross Simituk, Roger Hovland, Gary Yargeau and Cory Kingsfield, Michael Yargeau, George Grant and Mike Walsh.
Candidate Julia King was sick and did not attend the forum last week. However, retiring councilor Danielle Klooster read King's prepared opening statement to the audience.
The public event provided an opportunity for candidates to present their ideas and blaze the campaign trail before the Oct. 21 municipal election.
During the meeting several residents and candidates expressed concerns about the current council's management in town. Many candidates used the forum as an opportunity to ask the community what the future of their home and town council might hold after this election.
The community came to express anger and confusion about bickering in the municipality and its negative public image after the municipal inspection. Several residents submitted anonymous questions to candidates during the forum, and demanded more information about the changes potential candidates would like to make in town.
One of the biggest topics of interest involved in assessing the community's needs and demands to stand on its own two legs — a fact that a lifelong resident and competitor addressed with passion.
“Penhold needs to move away from being a bedroom community and start being a community,” said rookie candidate Michael Yargeau, adding his parents' lives and his own childhood were dramatically shaped for the best because they had an opportunity to play sports on local teams and learn about their neighbours.
If elected, Yargeau is optimistic his voice could set a strong, positive tone in the Town of Penhold. He wants to help control the municipality's spending and manage conflict within the area.
“There's an attitude that has to start with council and flow out to the rest of town,” he said. “It's an attitude that needs to change and it's going to change. Council needs to portray that attitude — it's incredibly important.
“I've been knocking on doors for two weeks now and more than half the comments are that we need to get rid of the negative attitudes around Penhold. People need to be proud to live here instead of reading the Innisfail Province and thinking, ‘Oh my God, what's in the paper this month?'
“We need to be so much more active in the community.”
At least five candidates for council agreed with that sentiment and came to voice their concerns about the current council's inability to work as a team.
“There's been issues between councillors and citizens,” said Walsh, a rookie candidate. “There is a disconnect. People need to feel like they're working for them, and not working against them. We need to work together. It can't just be the seven councillors and the mayor making decisions.”
A fact that was echoed by Grant, who is also new to the electoral process.
“Nobody is getting a free key to the town office,” Grant explained, noting it's the first Penhold election with a long list of competitors. “It's going to result in drastic change and I think people want to see what direction this town is really going to go in.”
Historically, Penhold has had limited choices when it comes to election time.
Penhold's chief administrative representative Rick Binnendyk said during the last election councillors were acclaimed, but there was a race for the mayor's seat.
“The last election was a flip for all previous elections,” said Binnendyk. “All previous elections, the mayor's chair wasn't challenged and then the council was challenged. This last time, it was the mayor's chair challenged and council's acclamation. Mostly it's been the other way.”
Added Grant, “Now everybody's got a choice. It's like coming to a buffet, you can pick and choose what you want.”
