While a fall election is still months away, at least two Drumheller residents are declaring their candidacy for Drumheller Town Council.
The Mail has learned that Drumhellerites Bob Hannah and Tom Armstrong have decided to run for council.
“I am interested in running things better and to be more democratic,” said Hannah.
Hannah has served the community in the past, most specifically with the Legion. He was President of the Alberta NWT Command, and has been recognized by Veterans Affairs for his outstanding contribution to the care and wellbeing of veterans.
He would like to see council take a leadership role in decisions that affect the community.
“Never mind the management running the show, I think council should be running the show, showing leadership instead of management,” said Hannah.
While Armstrong, who has lived in the area for most of his life, may not have the experience, he says he has the voice of the people.
“I hang around the real tax payers, not the ‘elite.’ I’m down here with the beer drinkers and the cigarette smokers, the red necks,” he laughs.
He would also like to see council represent the people.
“I am seeing a lot of people on council, not all of them but some of them, who seem to have their own agendas, and it doesn’t really matter what the people want,” said Armstrong. “That is what you are elected for, not because there is a burning issue that you want to fix, it is for what the people want.”
He says in the past few years there has been a lot of things happen in the community that he does not like, and others agree with him. This includes the building of a community facility. He says the community facility is too far along and too much money has been invested to change the project.
One issue he says that has been bungled is the downtown parking. He says the merchants in downtown Drumheller should have been consulted because they are the most affected by the changes, and major contributors to taxes.
Armstrong says the timing of the candidates’ announcement is not strategic.
“Why not? Why not fire a gun across the bow now? Why wait until October? At least they know there is someone coming after them,” said Armstrong.
