A total of twelve candidates have announced their intentions to run for seats on Wheatland County council in the upcoming October 2021 municipal elections, including five incumbent parties.
Current councillors for Division 2 (Reeve Amber Link), Division 3 (Donna Biggar) Division 4 (Tom Ikert), Division 5 (Deputy Reeve Scott Klassen) and Division 6 (Glenn Koester) are running for re-election for a second term in their respective divisions; meanwhile, the seven new candidates announced so far are vying for the soon to be vacant Division 1 and Division 7 seats.
Current Division 7 Councillor Ben Armstrong announced earlier this year he will be retiring after 29 years of service. During his time on council, Councillor Armstrong has served as both Reeve and Deputy Reeve of Wheatland County, and is currently the longest serving member of council.
With his seat soon to be vacated, two candidates, Einar Davison and Rick Laursen, have announced their intentions to run for Councillor Armstrong’s spot on council.
In a press release, Davison, a longtime resident of the Hussar area, stated, “I am confident I can represent Division 7 ratepayers as effectively as Ben did.”
Fellow Division 7 candidate Rick Laursen is a longtime resident and has been heavily involved in the community for many years, having plenty of experience, at both a local and national level, on various boards and committees. He currently serves as council president of Our Saviors Community Church in Hussar, and Vice Chair of the Canadian Standards Association committee.
“With the retirement of current Councillor Ben Armstrong, I felt prompted to enter the municipal election for the first time and put my extensive experience to use as a councillor,” Laursen tells the Mail.
Division 1 Councillor Jason Wilson gave an emotional farewell during the Tuesday, July 6 regular council meeting, thanking his fellow councillors for the privilege to serve with them over the course of his four year term.
His fellow council members thanked him for his service to the county and expressed their appreciation for the perspective he brought as the youngest councillor. Wheatland County Reeve Amber Link also thanked him for representing Wheatland County.
With Councillor Wilson’s announcement he will not be running for re-election, four new candidates have put their names forward for Division 1, Allen Grant MacLennan, Janet Kanters, Shmorong, Shannon Laprise, and Erich Hoff.
MacLennan has prior experience working in previous election campaigns in Calgary, and is familiar with governance at both a local and ministerial level having been involved with developing a ministry project to maintain rural capability, and the community and livelihood of rural life.
He says he has concerns with “government overreach” and protecting industry within the county. MacLennan shares there are many families in the area who have lived and worked many acres within the county for generations, and throughout the years numerous bylaw changes have been made which may have unforeseen impacts on these landowners.
“This is where we live, and this is where we work,” MacLennan tells the Mail, adding he will have “a tremendous amount of work” ahead of him if elected.
Ginette Motta is running for the Division 6 seat alongside incumbent candidate Glenn Koester.
Koester was first elected to Wheatland County council in 2003 and, if elected, this term will mark his seventh term on council.
The nomination period will remain open until Monday, September 20 at 12 p.m.
