From Anderson to Zevola, candidates from all seven of Lac La Biche County’ s wards’ were able to have their say on the area’ s biggest issues during Wednesday and Thursday night’ s candidates’ forums.
From Anderson to Zevola, candidates from all seven of Lac La Biche County’ s wards’ were able to have their say on the area’ s biggest issues during Wednesday and Thursday night’ s candidates’ forums.
On Thursday evening, the second of two candidates’ forums was held at Portage College’ s McGrane Theatre, featuring candidates from Wards 5, 6 and 7, as well as both mayoral candidates. Wednesday night’ s forum meanwhile, saw candidates from the remaining four wards, also at McGrane Theatre and once again with both mayoral candidates present.
During both forums, candidates were given a limited amount of time to speak about what they have to offer the county if elected, as well as respond to questions prepared by the forums’ organizers and asked on the spot by residents. And with solid attendance of easily 100 plus residents each night, there were plenty of questions to be answered.
Both evenings began with introductions from each candidate present - as some were unable to attend - before mayoral candidates Gail Broadbent-Ludwig and incumbent Omer Moghrabi went head-to-head, posing each other questions. Alphabetical order saw Broadbent-Ludwig start the grilling, asking Moghrabi to explain council’ s missed opportunities for development within the county.
“When your economy is going 150 kilometres an hour and then drops off a ledge - especially in an area that relies so much on the oil industry - it’ s going to create obstacles,” Moghrabi replied. “This was not a recession, it was a drop off a cliff. I carried the flag and we kept going, I believe in positive change and will continue to do that if reelected.”
Moghrabi shot back by asking his opponent how she would deal with the 5:1 ratio mill rate to be imposed on municipalities by the province’ s Municipal Government Act. Recent changes to the act require that all municipalities’ highest tax rates be no more than five times higher than their lowest tax rate.
However, as Lac La Biche County was recently granted specialized municipality status, it will be able to continue to operate in the way that best suits its need for the time being. However, since the change will eventually need to be made, Broadbent-Ludwig addressed Moghrabi’ s question.
“We don’ t have a huge spread to bring it down by a five point difference, I understand the government is giving us time to change that,” she said.
Meanwhile, those seeking election to a position as a councillor were faced with a question tailored specifically to their ward. The sole exception being Ward 5, whose candidate Charlyn Moore has already been named as the ward’ s councillor by acclamation.
Due to its rural nature, Ward 1 candidates were asked how they would best represent farmers within their ward. Thanks to the candidates’ backgrounds in agriculture, most felt their ability to relate with their constituents would be their greatest asset.
“The gap between agriculture and council can be an issue,” said incumbent Wanda Austin. “I understand their lingo because, as a farmer of a small cattle ranch, I speak it every day.”
Darlene Beniuk said she felt the issue of residents - including farmers - leaving the area to make purchases should be addressed. She said she had talked to farmers who had to leave that area for a small purchase but end up making many other purchases while they are at it.
“There’ s a lot of money leaving the community at the same time as the $20 purchase is being made,” she said. “I have listened to what they have to say. There’ s many good ideas out there but there’ s also many concerns.”
The final candidate present was Alvin Kumpula as the ward’ s fourth candidate Dixie Dunham, was unable to attend due to a work commitment. Kumpula also said his farming background would help him to connect with his constituents.
“Helping farmers is something I’ ve been doing all my life,” he said, adding he had served on various councils and committees previously. “I’ d like to get back on council and make some common sense decisions.”
With all five Ward 2 candidates in attendance, candidates were asked to offer possible solutions to one of Lac La Biche County’ s most hot-button issues, the increasing prevalence of rural crime. In short, teamwork was seen as the area’ s best chance for cutting out crime.
“My own yard has been stolen from twice,” said Jodymae Brown. “I believe in the law enforcement officers in this area but I think they need help. I believe rural crime watch groups can partner with law enforcement.”
George Buchanan agreed teaming up and looking out for neighbours was vital.
“We need to pay attention to what’ s happening in our community,” he said.
Arina Konev meanwhile felt continuing on recent actions by the county, such as surveillance equipment in main areas of the county and addressing homelessness are key to combating crime.
“Our homeless are looking for a place for money and we can’ t be protecting ourselves with guns or mace,” she said. “We have to get to the bottom of what’ s causing this.”
While he admitted it would require the use of taxpayer dollars, George L’ Heureux suggested supplying community watch groups with better resources.
“Give radios to everyone and have them supervised by law enforcement,” he said.
The ward’ s final candidate Richard Mahe, said the municipality needed to take advantage of associations the county has access to such as the Alberta Urban Municipality Association, and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, and lobby the provincial and federal governments to change laws.
“These organized crime groups that come out and steal from us know the system and the system is corrupt,” he said. “We need to lobby the higher ups as a municipality to have crime reduced in our municipality.”
With only two candidates running in Ward 3 and one of them Nikola Skorohodov, unable to attend, question period for the one candidate present, Colette Borgun was not surprisingly short. When asked how she planned to make sure Plamondon residents in Ward 3 were properly represented around the council table, she said she felt the secret was continuing the work started by her predecessors.
“We need to be up front with the county,” said Borgun. “I think I just need to follow in some very good footsteps that have been laid out for me.”
Lac La Biche West-area Ward 4 saw all four candidates present and explaining how they plan to appropriately represent a diverse area of the county. Incumbent candidate Dave Phillips said it all came down to balance.
“The best way to represent them all is to understand their needs and find a balance of what they all need,” he said.
Avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach was the solution Jason Stedman presented.
“We are very diverse in our ward,” he said. “This is where council is going to need to be flexible and customize our work to the people.”
The ward’ s third and final contender said he hopes to simply deliver on what residents see as the biggest issues, in particular the state of the roads.
“A lot of people are upset with the roads,” he said. “The biggest issue I came across was the paving from the Martin Subdivision to Lac La Biche with Tarrabain Drive.”
Thursday night saw the remaining wards’ candidates in the hot seat but with Ward 5’ s Charlyn Moore already names as the ward’ s representative after running unopposed, a question period from organizers was skipped for the sake of time. Instead, grilling went straight on through to Ward 6.
With all new faces running in Ward 6, candidates were asked instead to talk about what makes them unique from their competition. Perry Eastman said it was his foresight.
“The thing I know I’ ve got going for me is I can see the future,” he said. “I can see where this place is going.”
Sterling Johnson said if he is elected his plan is to tighten up council’ s spending habits.
“That means more money is going back into our community,” said Johnson.
A younger candidate within the ward, Cody Leach said his age sets him apart from his competition.
“I’ m young, energetic, open-minded and I don’ t have anything to gain,” he said. “I’ m just here to represent and see this community become a better place.”
With both Kent William Davidson and Darryl Montgomery unable to attend the forum, Sandra Makokis was the final Ward 6 candidate to speak. She said that simply the fact she would be a new addition to the table would be of benefit to council.
“I think a new group of people on council will make much of a difference,” she said. “I think I can bring a lot to council with new ideas, and stubbornness.”
Candidates from the county’ s only ward with two councillor and busiest for candidates with eight people running Ward 7, were asked what they would do to try to bring business to the area, in particular Lac La Biche hamlet. Dan Anderson said he feels working with neighbouring communities to reach out to businesses is the best way to bring and keep businesses in the area.
“The focus has to be on attracting businesses and employers for business retention,” he said. “I think if we can poll the stakeholders of our community as well as our Métis and First Nations neighbours and a representative from each ward we can accomplish this.”
Bess Bliss also felt working with surrounding communities was the county’ s best option for attracting business.
“I would work with citizens and see what it is the people want and work with surrounding communities and focus on their needs,” she said.
Cliff Chamberlin said he would focus on taking advantage of the area’ s recreational opportunities as a means of growing tourism in the county.
“Maybe we can get people to come up here for winter holidays,” he said. “We need to let people know Lac La Biche is not just an outpost, that we’ re open for business.”
Colin Cote meanwhile had the environment on his mind, along with giving Lac La Biche hamlet a facelift, even if it means spending some money.
“We have to work on the environment and green initiatives and keep working with watershed groups,” he said. “And create an initiative for the beautification of stores downtown through maybe some kind of incentives. You have to spend the money in order to make the money and grow business.”
Brian Deheer said his biggest concern with business in the area was seeing the local economy boom and bust over the year. He feels this is because the county depends too much on the oil industry and said there should be a focus on economic diversification. He also said he was interested in renewable energy.
“And finally, looking not just at jobs, jobs, jobs but also the quality of life,” he added.
John Mondal felt it was important to engage residents, businesses and stakeholders to get involved in the community.
“We need to create incentives and encourage development within the community,” he said, “And invest in natural assets by investing in natural resources.”
Incumbent candidate John Nowak turned the question around, saying in his experience council is responsible for putting in infrastructure for businesses and not directly lobbying to bring businesses to town.
“What a lot of people don’ t realize is council’ s primary role has to do with putting in infrastructure,” he said, “Not to go out a beg Wal-Mart to come here or entice them with lower taxes. You can’ t force someone to open a business, you can’ t force someone to risk their money.”
The final candidate for Ward 7 Lorin Tkachuk, said he believes changing the municipality’ s permit process would help make development in the area more appealing.
“One way to entice development is streamlining our permit process,” he said. “I think we need to get out of the past, I think this needs to be our starting point and move forward from here.”
Election Day is Oct. 16, residents vote for a mayor at-large as well as for one of the candidates for their ward’ s councillor, with the exception of those within Ward 7 - Lac La Biche hamlet - who vote for two councillors.
