Municipal election season is off to a good start in Penhold with current and new members of council ready to jump into the race.
Mayor Dennis Cooper is planning on running for the title of “your worship” once again when the election is held Oct. 21.
“There's still more things to do. We still have to move our community forward in finishing off the flood plan, looking after water, we have streets to improve,” Cooper said. He said he thinks there are a number of areas he and the current council have helped move forward.
This was Cooper's first term as mayor. He defeated former mayor Julia King in the 2010 election after serving four terms as a councillor.
Councillor Chad Hoffman is going to try and keep his seat at the table as well.
“Absolutely,” he said when asked if he was going to run. He said he thinks there's lots left to accomplish and citizens deserve accurate representation. This was his first term as a councillor.
Councillors Kathy Sitter, Danielle Klooster and April Jones all indicated they weren't sure if they'd be entering the race.
Sitter has served four terms on council. Klooster, who is on her second term, said she's still making a decision in part because the new four-year term is a bigger commitment. Previously council terms were three years.
“If I do make the commitment I want to be prepared to make the true commitment that it is,” Klooster said, noting council often means more work than one meeting every two weeks.
Jones, who is on her second term, said she hasn't decided yet because she's waiting to see if enough people are running to trigger a council election instead of an acclamation like the 2010 election.
“I think that the public are asking for new council and new ideas,” Jones said. She said it's important there is an election and will decide later this summer.
The longer commitment causing Klooster to hesitate is one of the reasons Councillor Wendy Dodman, a first-term councillor, wont' be running again. Dodman said by email she's not able to commit to the four-year term and wants to spend more time with her family.
Councillor Heather Klein weren't immediately available for comment on her status as a candidate.
Some new faces are joining the election fray this year.
Phil Sandstra said he's going to attempt to gain a council seat. He said many people complain about things but the only way to make changes is from the inside.
“It's time for a change,” he said, adding the current council has done a good job. “Being a town councillor is not an easy task.”
Mike Yargeau is hoping his youth works for him in the election, bringing in the votes of other young families. He's running for a spot as councillor after seeing Penhold's demographics and size change radically during his lifetime and many people's main activities move to Red Deer.
“I want to see more of a community in Penhold,” Yargeau said.
Both Yargeau and Sandstra are still working on fine-tuning their platforms.
Nomination day in Penhold is Sept. 23. Candidates will need to file their paperwork with the town's returning officer, Melissa Daines.
Information for candidates, including a nomination package, are on the town's website, www.townofpenhold.ca. The town's Chief Administrative Officer Rick Binnendyk said there's an open house scheduled on Aug. 17 to answer questions for potential candidates.
“We're trying to make things very open,” he said.
