Rebel councillor vows to fight on

Chad Hoffman lives to pull vehicles out of the mire with his suspension lifted Ford F150. Now it's the first-term Penhold councillor who is stuck in the muck - politically spinning his tires.

But in spite of the repeated roadblocks Hoffman faces he is ready for the long haul.

ìI haven't made much progress in the last three years here and I've got too much invested to give up,î said the 35-year-old embattled rookie. ìBut the people see what a challenge I have here in council.î

The elected body decided to keep the Playboy model-tweeting, 9mm gun-possessing owner of an off-road towing company from serving on committees and as deputy mayor. Council also deprived him of his town office key for the second year running. But the feisty councillor has vowed to keep fighting for taxpayers.

ìI work hard and I have solid values,î he said. ìI've frickin' worked in the oil patch for 10 years. I've been a firefighter.î

The self-styled populist is a little rough around the edges, feeling at home in grubby jeans and a leather jacket with tears at the back along the collar. The fence at his property line is adorned with a sign that reads ìSex Drive.î He was even successful in getting Playboy model Victoria Winters to tweet him a photo of her in a firefighter outfit on a pole, he says.

While critics see an unseasoned contrarian and assert Hoffman has abused his public standing, he says he's been treated unfairly and claims democracy is being tested.

He has pledged to fight what he sees as bureaucratic muzzling and plans to run again in the next municipal election.

ìI get railroaded constantly,î he said, adding his experience with Penhold's fire department was even worse.

Jim Pendergast, Penhold's fire chief, said Hoffman ñ a former lieutenant with the department, was dismissed for ìdisciplinary reasons.î

A letter from Pendergast dated Aug. 8, 2011, accused Hoffman of using the department's office for personal business, texting a firefighter late at night, giving orders and making accusations, verbal aggressive behaviour towards rookie firefighters and shoving colleagues.

ìAs a fire department our members must feel completely safe at the fire hall, at practice locations and at emergency scenes,î it states. ìCurrently some of the firefighters do not feel safe unless I am present with you in attendance.î

Hoffman says he never got the chance to refute any of the accusations before he was summarily dismissed.

ìWhat I was told was that in the training the previous week I pushed a rookie member,î he said. ìI don't remember pushing the guy. I don't think I pushed him.î

Pendergast declined to comment on the nature of the dismissal.

Since he was still the council's representative to the department he put together a final report with recommendations for how to improve the volunteer force. Hoffman then presented it to the media.

ìCouncil didn't like that one bit,î he said, adding council never implemented his suggestions.

Mayor Dennis Cooper describes the issue with the fire department as just one ìstumbling blockî on the road for council to deliver a reprimand. At the Oct. 2011 organizational meeting they stripped Hoffman of his council privileges. Cooper was unable to provide specifics about council's decision.

However, later that month Cooper sent Hoffman a letter outlining councillor duties as listed in the Municipal Government Act (MGA). The letter also charged the rookie councillor had an ìapparent unwillingnessî to be a team player and to respect the will of council.

ìThis is the only power council has,î said Cooper. ìYou can't remove a councillor. You would violate the MGA.î

Hoffman admits voting against accepting fire department information reports was ìprobably not the most mature wayî to voice his dissent. Nevertheless he vows to stick to his convictions.

ìThey're really big on saying I'm not a team player,î he said. ìI don't play for Team Government, I play for Team Penhold.î

For one, Hoffman was the lone hand up against the Pallisades Outline Plan in 2012. The Laebon housing development is located within a flood plain and would require the diversion of the Waskasoo Creek, he says.

ìI am responding to taxpayers. I really have a hard time with the moving of Waskasoo Creek,î he said. ìYou talk to some of the longtime farmers in this area and there's some pretty serious flooding that happens here from time to time.î

He says he voted against recreation trail plans not only because he doesn't think it's the best use of municipal funds, but also because of how the vote was handled.

ìThey'll send us an email and give us like two days to decide,î he said, adding by the time it comes to council the vote is just a formality.

Cooper said Hoffman's behaviour has been improving, but wouldn't say why the rebel councillor's privileges were not restored at the 2012 operational meeting.

ìChad decided to sit on the other side of the fence with council,î he said. ìI feel bad for Chad that he feels that he's on the outside.î

However, Hoffman counters that council is trying to ignore the problem until it goes away.

ìThey're really taking a smack at democracy,î he said.

But Cooper insisted individual councillors should not speak on behalf of council, a lesson he learned as a rookie when he was reprimanded by the Penhold mayor of the day for giving the media a positive comment.

ìI didn't realize I couldn't talk to the media,î he said. ìFrom then on I didn't do it.î

Despite the past and current battles, Hoffman said he wants to give municipal government one more term.

ìAfter this whole political experience so far I still don't feel the people are getting accurately represented,î he said. ìIf I keep trying to bring the public opinion to this table whether they want to hear it or not then I'm doing my job.î