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The Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com sent out a questionnaire to each of the candidates running to be the next mayor of Moose Jaw. We will be publishing these results in order they were received.
The mayoral byelection is set for Wednesday, Nov. 3.
What would be your top priority as mayor?
To change the culture in city hall. Our city deserves a shift to an idea that city hall is a service provider and a place where people can have their voices heard with a receptive ear and a reassurance that their concerns are going to be taken seriously and be taken care of. This flows down through every point in my platform.
To know, as a citizen, that our tax dollars are being spent responsibly and that our property assessments, both personal and business, are carefully evaluated based on an actual value, is of primary concern to me in my effort to become mayor. I want all our citizens and businesses to know that we are on their side, that we care about who they are and what they do, and that their contributions are valuable and should be appropriated accordingly.
What would you like to accomplish or see happen in your first 100 days?
I’ll be working with council to discuss a strategy to implement the culture change I want to foster in city hall. I intend on making sure we, as council, work towards having the proper people in key positions to make sure this goes smoothly. Working with our city manager to research exhaustively the spending in the different departments in city hall will help us to eliminate waste and find efficiencies to better control our spending.
How can city council be more transparent in its decision making?
With honesty! With me as your mayor you can count on full transparency. We work for you, not the other way around.
What do you think about city council spending more on projects than it budgeted for this year?
Sometimes that has to happen, but let me assure you that keeping a balanced budget is always, or should always be, our goal as those who are running the city.
I don’t know if you’re speaking of something specific, but we do have surplus funds in case of emergencies. That said, we have more options that just our surplus fund for projects. We can defer payments to fit budgetary concerns with loans and we can investigate options like provincial and federal grants and other funding opportunities provided by other agencies.
What do you think about council using surplus account -- such as the accumulated account -- to pay for unexpected expenses?
Since that is exactly what the fund is for, I’m completely in favour of it, but it has to be done in a way to not compromise the future growth and financial standing of the city. Making and following the year’s budget is always going to be the primary and expected way to pay for everything.
Every budget should include a reserve fund for unforeseen expenses, so I don’t expect that we’ll be dipping into the surplus fund often unless we see an opportunity that presents itself with great benefit to us all in Moose Jaw.
Do you think that community beautification initiatives are necessary and should be spent out of surplus funds?
Keeping our city visually appealing is a source of pride to those who live here, and it also makes others who visit our fine city love visiting, so yes, to answer your question directly, community beautification initiatives are absolutely necessary.
That said, each project is unique and must be evaluated accordingly. Finding ways to fund these initiatives without surplus monies will always be our goal, but if we can utilize surplus funds responsibly without compromising our future, I don’t see why we can’t
Your job is to represent everyone in the city. How do you plan to represent people who do not vote for you?
I will make every effort to make time in my schedule to listen to you and have that conversation you seek. I will make myself available to the public regularly at scheduled events and functions, so you can tell me what’s on your mind. By being open minded, willing to listen, and doing my best to understand I can be the best mayor I can be to everyone, including those who didn’t vote for me.
What issue doesn't receive enough attention in Moose Jaw?
The taxpayer. I routinely hear stories of dissatisfaction; bad roads, scaled back services, property tax assessments unfairly high and inaccurate, being given the run-around when calling city hall for concerns, and the list goes on. We can and will do better, I promise.
What issue receives too much attention?
The money we spend/spent on Mosaic Place and Yara Centre. These are both fabulous facilities, world-class. We wouldn’t be able to host wonderful events like the Scotties Tournament of Hearts or bring in musical acts like we do without them. Our Moose Jaw Warriors spend a great deal of time there too. I will agree that we must find a way for both facilities to pay for themselves and that will be something the council spends time on.
What informs your political stance?
Logic and common sense. I would consider myself conservative in nature, but as this position isn’t really party affiliated, I believe that I will defer to logic and common sense.
What is something people don't know about you?
I grew up on a farm two miles from the town of McAuley, Man. The town was named after my great-great-grandfather because a grain elevator was built on his land next to the CP railroad, or at least that is what I’ve been told.
