Cheri Funke is a proud stay-at-home mom with a passion.
She is passionate about her community, young families and the environment.
On the community front, Funke was raised in Sundre. Her sister and parents are also citizens.
At the age of 32 she is now married and raising two young children. And speaking of the environment, Funke is dedicated to green space and parks. In fact, the recent controversy over the fate of Sundre's pocket parks inspired her to run for town council. She is determined to make a difference.
On Monday (Nov. 5), Funke was officially acclaimed and sworn in as Sundre's new town councillor. She was the only person nominated to replace first-term councillor Michael Baird who left his seat to fully commit his time to advance his post-secondary education in Calgary.
“I hope to show council what young families want,” said Funke. “I want to bring young families to council so that the things affecting them will be addressed.
“We don't have enough community involvement,” added Funke, whose acclamation saves the town about $3,000 from running a planned Nov. 21 byelection. “I won by acclamation. That is sad.”
Funke was born in Olds but grew up in Sundre. She left the town at the age of 17 to attend Mount Royal College in Calgary where she studied accounting.
Funke then returned permanently to Sundre in 2004. Her husband Matthew is an electrician for Shell Canada. She has dedicated herself to raising her nine-year-old son Justin and five-year-old daughter Drae. Funke has also been involved in helping citizens in the community, serving as a volunteer at Greenwood Neighbourhood Place by helping seniors with their income tax returns.
But as a young mother she is especially devoted to the welfare of her children and for all young families in town.
When citizens were moved to protest last month against plans to eliminate the town's pocket parks, she felt it was her time and duty to step up.
“I am passionate about what happens with the parks. In 2009 they took out the playground equipment at the park on Aspen Crescent. It was the same park I played in when I was a kid,” said Funke. “There's little enough for kids to do in town. It is not feasible to drive kids to other parks.”
Funke said she will fight to keep the pocket parks intact as a town councillor. However, she admits she does not have an alternative solution. But she is willing to listen to all sides of the debate and has dedicated herself to learn all she can on how council works.
“I want to work with the public and council on something we can all compromise on,” said Funke, adding she has the potential to bring a fresh perspective to council as a person who has dedicated herself as a stay-at-home mom since 2002. “When you are a stay-at-home mom you don't focus on business. You focus on family and safety. We want our kids to be safe.”
