It was a quick-fire question and answer session last Tuesday evening as 13 candidates for public office gathered before a crowd of about 200 at the TransCanada Theatre for the candidates forum in advance of next Monday's municipal election.
Each contender had one minute to make an opening statement, before a series of questions collected from attendees were put forward. Afterward each candidate had an additional minute to make a closing remark.
Twelve council candidates were in attendance, with the notable absence of Matthew Cadrin, who did not return any calls or otherwise explain his absence. Also at the table was mayor-elect Michael Muzychka, who refrained from weighing in on the questions put before the council nominees, but was given three minutes at the end of the evening to address the audience.
Five sets of questions were collected from the crowd, and put forward by moderator Terry Cody, chair of the Olds Institute's Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion committee, giving a taste of the topics that are currently on the collective mind of Olds.
The questions covered health care in Olds and ensuring there are enough doctors with hospital privileges; plans to reduce taxes while maintaining service levels; accountability and transparency of council; quality of life and traffic congestion; and finally, town staffing and high utility rates.
The prospective councillors had one minute to answer each of the questions, but the evening's format left little possibility for debate either between candidates, or for attendees to ask followup questions or challenge the responses. Moreoever, with 12 candidates each speaking on five issues, there was a lot of overlap in response.
There was some disagreement between candidates on the role council plays within the community to ensure that there are enough doctors, with some saying it plays none, while others said it had an advocacy role and still others thought council should go so far as to lobby Alberta Health Services.
Several incumbents pointed to the work of the Olds Institute's Physician Attraction & Retention Committee as the main driver in ensuring comprehensive health care.
On the topic of council remuneration and transparency, it was pointed out by several candidates that the data is already available online, and that council itself does not set pay, and instead a citizens' committee makes recommendations once a term, prior to the new council being elected.
When it comes to high utility rates, almost all candidates acknowledged that it is an ongoing issue, and that water rates are set by local commissions, not town council. Several incumbents pointed out that the town has recently completed an extensive water loss survey, and that continuing to detect leaks in the system will help lower costs.
On the subject of balancing taxes with maintaining quality community services, several candidates noted that attracting businesses to the area, which pay significantly higher taxes, could be a way to offset residential costs.
The only candidate of the evening to present a specific platform was David Terry, whose three-point agenda included cutting council remuneration by 25 per cent, imposing a three-term limit and instituting a town-wide video surveillance system to help decrease theft.
MORE: The sheer number of candidates running for office next week, combined with limited debate during the forum, makes it difficult to concisely summarize each nominee's position on various issues. Instead, we've included contact information for all candidates, and encourage you to watch the forum, which is available on Olds Community TV's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oldscommunitytv.
ELECTION DAY is next Monday, Oct. 16 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, Olds Branch.
ON THE BALLOT
Here's a quick summary of whose names are on the ballot and how you can get more information about each candidate and contact them further.
WADE BEARCHELL *
Seeking 3rd term
Job: Head professional and manager of Olds Golf Club
Twitter: @WadeBearchell
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Wade-Bearchell-1536694426586488/
Email: [email protected] Phone: 403-507-3329
DEBBIE BENNETT *
Seeking 3rd term
Job: Co-owns Guardian Emergency Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 403-507-9768
WANDA BLATZ
Seeking 1st term
Job: Retired from financial industry
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 403-586-0166
KEITH BISHOP
Seeking 1st term
Job: Contractor, consultant
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KEITHBISHOPFORTOWNCOUNCIL
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 403-438-0460
GORDON BUECKERT
Seeking 1st term
Job: Journeyman mechanic
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 403-507-1856
MATTHEW CADRIN
Seeking 1st term
Job: Farm Credit Canada lender
403-896-9666, [email protected]
RUDY DURIEUX *
Seeking 2nd term
Retired school principal
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RudyDurieuxOldsTownCouncil
Email: [email protected] Phone: 403-559-6600
MARY JANE HARPER *
Seeking 4th term
Job: Realtor, retired journalist
Facebook: www.facebook.com/maryjanesellsolds
Email: [email protected] Phone: 403-556-0964
MARY ANNE OVERWATER *
Seeking 2nd term
Job: Retired banker
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 403-556-5229
HEATHER RYAN
Seeking 1st term
Job: Freelance writer, journalist, small business owner
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 403-556-6862
RON STADE
Seeking 1st term
Job: Service advisor at Hildebrand Motors
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ronstade
Phone: 403-304-6510
DAVID TERRY
Seeking 1st term
Job: Liquor store manager, locksmith
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 403-556-7015
HARVEY WALSH *
Seeking 7th term
Job: Photographer
Email: [email protected] Phone: 403-556-8525
MAYOR ELECT MICHAEL MUZYCHKA
Acclaimed for 1st term
Job: Accountant
Twitter: @muz4mayor
Phone: 403-559-4170
* incumbent candidate
