Standard Mayor re-elected, debriefs following municipal election

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Martin Gauthier is returning to the helm for the Village of Standard over the next four-year term, having been voted by council to resume his position as mayor.

Council meetings in Standard are now able to resume with a full council roster following the results of the election. Previously, council was down a member following Adam Sommerfeldt’s resignation during the last term of council.

“We talked to municipal affairs, and they okayed us to go with four councillors until the election because to have a by-election, it costs you money, so you try to keep your costs down,” said Gauthier.  “We ran with four for a year and a half or however long we were sitting. We will never do that again.”

He cited that it simply became too challenging to get anything done as a council once challenging motions began to hit the floor without being able to break ties in voting.

Post election, Gauthier is joined on council by fellow incumbent, Richard Bryan, as well as newcomers Brandon Duffala, Brian Pederson, and Rhett Penny.

“After I left our first organizational meeting, it was probably the first time in at least four years that I’ve been excited to go forward with this group of guys,” said Gauthier.

Similar to operations within Wheatland County, candidates run for seats on council in Standard. Once council is elected, they will choose from amongst themselves who will sit as mayor and deputy mayor.

Gauthier described being entrusted with the mayoral seat once again, as well as having been on council for the last 16 years as a distinct honour.

His motivation to remain on council stems from a desire to maintain momentum and see municipal projects through to completion.

“I’ve been on the Wheatland Regional Corporation for a number of years now, and I’ve been on the Wheatland Housing Management Board for a number of years. We have had projects in our own town, it’s just, the projects you have going, you try to see them finished and then just keep moving forward and improving things for the village,” he said. “We have had a lot of projects over the last few years in Standard with Centennial Park, Memory Lane, and the outdoor arena. Now, the rodeo society is putting on a kids’ rodeo, and there is so much more going on.”

Gauthier’s immediate priorities for the village include improving roads, sewers, and other infrastructure, as well as to secure a number of grants to aid in the financing of such projects.

Additionally, he hopes to see more regional collaboration be created, particularly with the new Wheatland County council.

“I’m hoping in November we can sit down at least and get some sort of a plan in place … in November, things will kind of get back to normal, but with everybody having to do mandatory training now, there is so much at the beginning (of a new term).”

He added following this term, he is likely to pass on the torch and step back from civil service after 20 years seated at the table.