About 150 people attended the Mountain View County all-candidates forum in Olds on Oct. 7, with the six challengers for three division seats outlining their respective positions and answering questions from audience members.
Moderated by former MLA Bob Clark, the 90-minute forum at the Pomeroy Inn was the only all-candidates forum for the MVC candidates prior to the Oct. 21 municipal vote.
Brent Buschurt and Jeremy Sayer are seeking the Division 1 seat, Ron Vogel and Ken Heck are vying for the Division 6 seat, and incumbent Al Kemmere and challenger Steve Algra are seeking the Division 7 seat.
Each candidate was given three minutes to outline his position.
Buschurt said, in part, that if elected he would work to promote farming and the rural lifestyle. “There needs to be a strong voice (on council) for the rural people who know that farming and ranching are a passion and lifestyle that needs to be protected and preserved but at the same time understands that growth and development are important for the county,” said Buschert.
“With the right council we can find the right balance between agriculture and development.”
He said he would also like to see more done to improve county roads.
“We need to develop a plan to fix these problems from the base up,” he said.
Sayer said, in part, that he would work to balance agriculture and development in the county.
“I believe in smart and sustainable development while remembering and preserving our farming heritage,” said Sayer. “As a municipal government we need to start envisioning the future, to make sure that in 30, 40, 50 years our tax base remains strong. This means that we need to find the right kind of space to grow, commercially, industrially, and residentially. It means keeping large residential development in our towns, not out in the countryside.”
He said he would also work to improve county roads and to keep municipal government small.
“Municipal government should be about the practice of wise and effective governance, rather than over-regulation and ballooning bureaucracy,” he said.
Heck said, in part, “I care about our county and I want to stand up and make a difference. My goal is to bring our county back to where it was in terms of being a vibrant county.
“I believe I have solutions that can bring us back on track. I believe it starts and ends with honesty, integrity and accountability. I can promise that I will treat everyone with respect.”
He said he would work to preserve farmland while promoting development.
“I believe the solution is a balanced approach through common sense decisions that balance agriculture and development,” he said.
He said he would also work to improve county roads.
“Instead of patching roads every year we need to rebuild some of them,” he said.
Vogel said, in part, that if elected he would make the improvement of the county's roads a priority.
“Our county needs to focus on its core services: roads, roads, roads,” said Vogel. “We can get distracted by things that seem important and neglect the urgent. As a county councillor I will stay focused on our roads and bridges.
“Wise spending and long-term planning are the keys to any successful organization. It's my goal to ensure that ratepayers are getting their best value for their dollars and I will do everything in my power to ensure that their taxes are not raised.”
He also said he would work to ensure cooperation with neighbouring municipalities and to promote rural lifestyle.
“Preserving the ratepayers' ability to farm is of vital importance to me. It doesn't mean we completely close the doors to development, but it does mean that we ensure that development is done wisely and in the right areas,” he said.
Algra said, in part, that if elected he would work to ensure that tax dollars are wisely spent.
“I will work to ensure that your taxes are being used efficiently and responsibly,” said Algra. “Any decisions made on issues will be for the benefit of the county and ratepayers, not for the furtherance of a political career or for the creation of a legacy. I want people in the county to say, ‘I don't know who runs this place, but they sure have good roads'.”
He said he will also work to promote agriculture and development.
“What I can do is work to ensure that farmers can operate with minimal interference from the local government,” he said. “Mountain View County has some of the best farmland in the world and this valuable resource must be protected as much as possible. If development is to occur, consideration must be given to the quality of the land that will no longer be farmed.”
Kemmere said, in part, that if re-elected he would work to improve county services, including road maintenance.
“It is my intent to work through all the proper processes and procedures in an effort to explore increased service delivery and training the staff so that we can improve all of our service levels,” said Kemmere.
“We must plan for both our immediate needs but also have a long-term approach to financial management. We have a financially sound county with a fair tax base and we need to maintain that.”
He also said he would work to promote development while protecting agriculture, and also work to improve communications.
“I believe that we must continue to identify that Mountain View County will allow for growth and also identify the areas that need to be protected for agriculture and environmental purposes,” he said.
“We must enhance our communication with our county residents and then expand this to improve our relationships with our neighbouring municipalities, our provincial and federal governments and work closer with the many organizations that affect Mountain View County.”
The candidates answered a number of written questions from audience members, including the following:
• “Do you support the proposed development around the Olds golf course?
Buschert said, in part: “I understand that there needs to be development and growth and it will bring a lot to the county, but at the same time we need to make sure that we are not going to be taking anything away from the towns.”
Algra said, in part: “I will support any development that will prove to be beneficial to the county. At this time I don't see the need for intensive residential outside the towns.”
Vogel said, in part: “If it benefits the county, it's good. So far with the information that we have been given, it seems as if this does not benefit the county. I will change my mind if I am shown that it can benefit us.”
Sayer said, in part; “If it benefits the county, I don't have a problem with it. But from what I've read and what I've seen, I could not support it as it stands right now.”
Kemmere said, in part: “We need to look at this not from today, but how it will benefit the county in the future. A diversified tax base is what we have to focus on.”
Heck said, in part: “I believe that high-density development gives us the maximum development for the least amount of farmland. I believe it is a good fit for this area.”
• “What is your method of determining the wishes of your constituents on various matters?”
Sayer said, in part: “It's a matter of listening and talking to people. For me, it means contacting as many people as possible in my division.”
Kemmere said, in part: “Contacting residents is a great tool.”
Heck said, in part: “I'm hoping that the polls will show that the people who put the councillors in will believe in their abilities and accountability.”
Buschert said, in part: “If elected I will be their voice and have their best interests in heart. Throughout the time there is emails and social media and touring around and sitting down and having coffee with people.”
Algra said, in part: “If you are not happy with what I've done or with something I'm thinking of doing, hold me accountable.”
Vogel said, in part: “I would like to regularly go out in the division and talk to the ratepayers.”
None of the nine questions posed to candidates related specifically to a $32-million lawsuit recently filed against Mountain View County regarding a proposed development east of Olds and north of Highway 27. The lawsuit is currently before the courts.
During the forum three of the four MVC councillors acclaimed on Sept. 23 made brief comments.
Bruce Beattie, Division 4 incumbent and reeve, said: “It's an exciting time in the county and we have lots to do. It's a major commitment (being on council) and one you have to take very seriously. We have had some success over the last three years in the area of planning, with the municipal development plan and the land use bylaw. We've got lots of work to do. There are no easy answers to roads.”
Duncan Milne, Division 3 incumbent, said he plans to work towards improving the county's road network.
Angela Aalbers, the new councillor for Division 5, said: “I look forward to working with the staff at the county office, who I think are very professional, and most importantly with the residents of the county. I look forward as much as I can to spend our taxpayers' dollars as efficiently as we can and looking for sustainable growth for our future.”
Division 2 incumbent Patricia McKean did not attend the forum.
Olds-area Chinook's Edge School Division trustee Trudy James, who was acclaimed on Sept. 23, also addressed the forum, saying, “If anyone has questions I would be happy to get answers for you.”
A candidates forum for Red Deer County Division 3 is scheduled for the Penhold library starting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 16.
