Meet the candidates – Election 2017 Strathmore

With the municipal election coming up on Oct. 16, we asked the Strathmore and Wheatland County candidates
Why should constituents vote for you?

Town of Strathmore – Mayor
Earl Best
Strathmore deserves a proven leader in the mayor’s chair.
I have shown this in my previous governance experience, community knowledge and serving on numerous community boards. I have also demonstrated business ethics and fiscal responsibility as an entrepreneur.
The mayor needs to make fiscal responsibility foremost and have the courage to address issues in Strathmore’s best interests, even if the needed solutions are sometimes controversial. I am that person.
I believe taxes come to council as a public trust and must be used for priorities with long-term benefits. You entrusted me to serve our community for nine years as councillor, including 18 months as deputy mayor. From my record of public service, I have proven my ability to use care, tact and diplomacy in building consensus for creative, innovative solutions.
Providing quality care and housing for our senior citizens is one of the fundamentals of my platform. I understand Strathmore and will sustain and protect our essential values. I will be open to your input and suggestions to initiate ways to best meet the wants and needs of our citizens, and provide solutions to better serve our local businesses. With your support and my knowledge and experience, we will lead our town successfully into the future.
I am Earl Best and I am … best for Strathmore.

Pat Fule
My name is Pat Fule and I have been a councillor for seven years, including 14 months as deputy mayor. I’d love to be your mayor based on my three-word slogan.
I am approachable. I’m available via texts, emails, cell phone and have a town Facebook page and website. I listen and respond to residents’ comments. Three paved pathways, two playground equipment sets and a lighted crosswalk came from residents. I am open to progressive ideas. Having taught for 34 years, I’m used to working with the public, and if successful in the mayoral race, I will continue to work for you.
I am honest, and I voted twice against pay raises, helped eliminate expensive budget retreats, reduced the number of eligible councillors for federal conferences and I worked to cut per diems.
Lastly, I bring a different form of leadership to council. With my teaching background, I learned people need to feel they are part of a “team.” If people feel appreciated, they can achieve great things. I can be the leader that brings out the best in our team of councillors.
You trusted me teaching your children and grandchildren, please trust me with your mayoral vote on Oct. 16.

Town of Strathmore – councillor

Lorraine Bauer
It is a privilege to allow my name, to stand for council and that municipal government leaders are elected by people like you.
By voting, you are making your voice heard and registering your opinion on how you think the government should operate. I want to be that person that you trust with your opinion.
I care, I listen, I inform myself of all the issues, I act.
Show you care about Strathmore as much as I do. Inform yourself of the issues, listen to the candidates, act … vote!
Vote for change. Vote for leadership. Vote for downtown revitalization, economic development and more services for our youth, including baseball diamonds, ice surfaces, soccer fields and programming. Let’s end homelessness. We care about our town and the way it looks. You have told me that you want more trees, to keep natural green spaces and connect pathways to make our town more walkable. You’ve also told me that safety in your communities is important.
I may not have all the answers, but with time I will find out how to ask the right questions.
I look forward to hearing from you. My name is Lorraine Bauer, please vote for me on Oct. 16.
Contact me via my email or website (Lorraine.d.bauer@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/lorrainebauerforstrathmorecouncil, lorrainebauer.wordpress.com).

Rocky Blokland
Hello! I, Rocky Blokland can promise you I will continue to speak, listen, debate, vote and work with council on your behalf to do what is best for Strathmore.
I believe I have handled myself for the last seven years with strong convictions of being a good councillor. That is: efficient, honest, transparent, dedicated, compassionate, and most importantly the ability to listen to all of you, the citizens. I firmly believe there should be business people represented at the council table. We deal with large budgets over the council term. A business sense is critical on financial decisions. I, by the way, have approximately 50 years of retail business experience.
My council experience of seven years has enabled and enriched me to understand the systems better, admin, council procedure, the MGA, committees and dealing with citizens and councillors on issues. I will continue to bring my A-game to council, which is: approachable, accessible, accountable, ability, to listen to you – citizens.
With your support on Oct. 16, I look forward to serving Strathmore as a councillor for the next four years, and will do my very best to represent the citizens of this community – “Strathmore.” A great place to call “home.”

Tari Cockx
I would like your support on Oct. 16 because I believe that I have the qualifications needed to be an asset to the Town of Strathmore. I am a businesswoman, and a legal professional, both of which will help make me a unique member of council. My family has called Strathmore home for almost a century; this makes Strathmore not only my home, but part of my family’s history. I have invested my life here, and I would like to give back. I believe in economic growth with ongoing vision. I believe in the beautification and revitalization of downtown, I believe that the youth need attention, activities and recreation, and I strongly believe that our seniors need and deserve to be heard. If elected I will listen and promote action for you the voters. I am dedicated, I have integrity, I am a visionary, I am enthusiastic, I am responsible, I am supportive, I am invested, I am trustworthy and I am youthful. My roots are deep. I have invested my life in this town. You can trust me, I have our town’s best interests at heart; this is my home!

Melanie Corbiell
I have worked in a variety of fields but I feel my best attributes have come from being a mom. Patience, problem solving, time management and putting others first is a continuous cycle. Most important of all, it taught me how to love unconditionally. I am running for council because in my heart, I love this town. I want to contribute and help shape the way Strathmore grows to fulfill the quality of life that everyone expects and deserves.
We need to look ahead at where we need to be and not behind; short-term thinking is in the past. We need to be proactive rather than reactive. I am passionate, motivated and honest. This town needs a change and I bring diversity and youth. If I am elected, I will listen to you, I will fight for what you want and I will work hard. I will give my full attention to make sure your issues and concerns are addressed.

Steve Grajczyk
I have lived in our community for the past 40 years, having owned and operated two successful businesses. I also sold commercial and investment real estate. This has given me the knowledge and feel for our community. With this knowledge I will continue to encourage and pursue commercial and industrial development with council, something I have been working on during my tenure. This will help offset the tax base to our residential taxes.
I will continue to be a strong advocate for senior citizens as well as our youth. I see sports as a great community activity for our children and I will continue to encourage this through development of programs, fields and recreation facilities. There is a need to lobby the provincial government for more reasonable cost for senior housing and home care support/assisted living. I will also continue to ensure the continuous development of ample parks, green spaces, wetlands and pathways.
Combining my long-term vision for the community and my tenacity to complete projects and initiatives, I continue to be a champion for senior citizens, the Marigold Library System, Wheatland Lodge, the Hospice Building Committee and tourism strategies with the Canadian Badlands. Taking on challenges such as crime and policing remains a priority, and working with and respecting our rural neighbours is essential.
Considering all the above goals, my main priority is keeping taxes down.
Please go out and vote on Oct. 16.

John Hilton-O’Brien
There are four things I hope to offer in service to Strathmore.
First, experience and training. I am a local business owner and engage with citizens on a daily basis. I’ve been involved at a leadership level in the volunteer sector, worked with private capital, and was even a founder (and once president) of the Wildrose Party. I studied social work at Mount Royal, and have an MA with a concentration in public ethics.
Second, a solid plan to encourage investment in Strathmore, and ways of tackling recreation, policing and even sewer bill fairness. Some of that is in this edition: you can see more at johnhob.ca.
Third, I get things done. When we needed a response to rising homelessness, I worked with other local volunteers to start the Strathmore Overnight Shelter, where I serve as president. When we needed youth recreational activities, my wife and I started HOB’s Hobbies, on 2nd Ave.
Finally, I am easy to find. You can call me at 587-229-9318, email me at hiltonjohn@yahoo.com, or simply walk into HOB’s Hobbies, right beside the theatre downtown.
I hope that you will support me on Oct. 16.

Peter Landry
Why should you vote for me? I’m realistic. I’m a chronic planner with a long history of effective management of time, resources, team building / managing and results. I am completely impartial and have no pre-determined agenda or dubious interest. I am not “connected to anyone,” have no local connection to businesses, am typically objective in approach and believe 100 per cent in representative democracy. I have considerable skill sets. I am at your service.

Jason Montgomery
I am a good choice for a position on council because I have training and real experience, utilizing the same legislation and bylaws that the town council must operate under. I have a proven track record working with town administration to facilitate growth and development in our town – thanks to my time volunteering on the Assessment Review Board and the Subdivision Development Appeal Board for the Town of Strathmore. I am able to research and comprehend complex subjects, and ask the right questions of the people involved, to get the information I need to make the best decision. I can communicate clearly and effectively, and will represent resident’s views to the town administration, to ensure that your desires are being met. I am interested in developing our town in a sustainable way that will give us a diverse and robust economic sector, while protecting the aspects of Strathmore that we like, and want to keep. My interest in providing the best opportunities for my family motivates me to ensure that the best decisions are made with respect to Strathmore’s future. I have vision and the ability to plan long term, and I am invested in our town’s success.

Denise Peterson
There is a line from a poem (‘Benedictus’ by Bill Rush) that best answers this week’s question as it pertains to me… “When you are 10 I may not be here, though you will find remembrances deep-hidden…”
What I’ve done in the past three-and-a-half decades in Strathmore and whatever I accomplished in the past four years is only relevant now in terms of how it impacts our community’s future. When I make decisions at the council table I picture the people I’ve taught, their children and my children, and all our grandchildren… and I question the present and future impact of each decision because I want the legacy of this council to be one that enriches this community far beyond the next election. If elected, I will hold your vote as a trust to be respected and never taken for granted.

Gordon Porteous
If I get the privilege of becoming a councillor for Strathmore, I will do my due diligence to make all my decisions informed. I pledge to uphold all my responsibilities in meeting all the needs of all the citizens I serve. Taking the time to hear out all ideas presented, explore all options and investigate all issues will be something that I will vigorously do. If I am elected, everyone’s time will be important, and I will do my very best to maintain and improve the quality of life in Strathmore.
Concerns over social issues, such as a high crime rate, have been expressed to me, and these are concerns I wish to address in a thorough manner. Our youth are a valuable resource, and should receive the best that our community can provide. Seniors should have the same access to services and should not be overlooked. Programs that are working to reduce drugs on our streets and theft in our neighbourhoods need more resources to better deal with our current situation, and to help create a safer environment. The situation with homelessness should be investigated and options explored. A vote for me is a vote for “A New Broom.”

Bob Sobol
I am someone who strongly believes in the saying: “The best predictor of future behaviour is … past behaviour.”
So, join me in a little walk down memory lane. Since 2007, I have served the citizens of this community with integrity, professionalism, common sense and plain old hard work. I have consistently and faithfully responded to each and every email, phone call or message sent to me in a prompt fashion, and responded in the best way I was able (and that includes having the federal post office agree to move a mailbox that was situated in a potentially dangerous location). During the last four years, I have been a member of 11 committees and have brought over 40 motions or projects to council and administration – the vast majority of which were incorporated successfully. I spend hours each month updating our citizens on what happens in council on my Facebook page because it’s important that you stay informed. At council, I am not afraid to ask the tough questions. The job of being a councillor involves taking the job seriously, and having the knowledge, time and persistence needed to do it properly. This is how I will perform my duties in the next four years, if re-elected.