BOWDEN - A former local business owner ñ one of six acclaimed town councillors ñ says he decided to throw his hat in the ring because he wants to revitalize the downtown and wants to learn more about how past council decisions were made.
Randy Brown, 51, is currently the general manager of Golf Town in Red Deer, but his family used to operate the hotel/bar and liquor store, until it was sold in 2006.
He has lived in Bowden since 1991.
"My father actually was on council in the '90s, so I have an idea of the workings, but I've never been officially involved until now, I guess," he says.
Brown has been involved in the Rec Board. He has also served as president and past-president of the Bowden golf course. This year, he's stepping down as vice-president.
"Just more than anything, I want to understand the workings of it (town council) and would like to really try to revitalize our downtown. I don't know if that's possible or not. Definitely the cities seem to eat up a lot of the businesses nowadays; people are more willing to travel," Brown says.
"But I just really want to find out if there is a way and a chance and the only way to be part of that is to get involved, so I threw my name in. I didn't realize it was going to be acclamation, but either way, I'm in."
He also wants to know how Bowden ended up being on a regional sewer line that pumps that sewage to Red Deer for treatment.
"We had our own sewer system here in Bowden; now we're on a main line with everybody. I just want to know how that all went down; why," he says.
Mayor Robb Stuart has said the town was essentially required by Alberta Environment to join that regional line.
Brown and his wife Brenda, who runs the post office in Bowden, have been married for 30 years. They have two sons: Cody, 29, and Dylan, 27.
"I want to understand the workings of it (town council) and would like to really try to revitalize our downtown. I don't know if that's possible or not."RANDY BROWN BOWDEN COUNCILLOR
