Who Will Represent Ward 6?
Open field of candidates after Jane Batty announces she will not seek another term.
It’s almost time for municipal elections throughout Alberta. After Ward 6 Councillor Jane Batty announced she will not be seeking re-election, many civic minded citizens stepped forward to compete to represent the neighbourhoods of Boyle Street and McCauley on October 21.
We asked the candidates (the ones who announced their intentions to run for office by our press deadline) to answer a couple of simple questions to help residents get to know them. The responses from those who answered are as follows, and have been edited for length.
Taz Bouchier:
“I am running because I believe I can best represent the people of Ward 6
in a Democratic, fair and equitable manner. I ‘listen’ well.
“Anyone aspiring to sit on City Council needs to remember that a people’s government requires people’s voices, people’s input and I intend, once elected to continue creating opportunity for community dialogues and to ‘listen’ so I can better represent everyone in Ward 6 equally.”
https://www.facebook.com/TazBouchier
Kyle Brown:
“I’m running because our city is in need of change. I believe we need to show our pride and make everyone aware that we are a gorgeous city that is continually changing and improving.”
“My main issues are: tackling homelessness, creating more green space, and promoting a growing transit system.”
Candas Jane Dorsey:
For Candas, “Running for city council is a logical next step after decades of community activism.
“A sustainable city is the main goal that motivates me. To make Edmonton sustainable we have to balance diverse issues: urban sprawl and urban agriculture, LRT and sewers, arts/culture and the arena, taxation and bike lanes, zoning and airports — and so many more.”
http://elect.candasjanedorsey.ca
Derrick Forsythe
Derrick is running because, “What I’ve seen during my 13+ years as a member of the Queen Mary Park Community League Board is an erosion of meaningful engagement. My job – if elected – will be to work with my colleagues on Council to create that mechanism and environment where meaningful consultation with communities is a required part of the process.”
“Ward 6 is such a diverse cross section of Edmonton the issues are many and varied. A couple are: development pressures, and concentration of social housing and services in the downtown area.”
Melinda Hollis:
“Serving on City Council with a conscience is one way I can be involved and do my part.”
“I think while growing the centre of our City and enhancing it, the growing outward of it has to be done in a progressive way. Our vision for our City needs to embrace the future. We also need to move forward with eliminating homelessness in Edmonton.”
Bryan Kapitza:
He’s running because “City Council has lost its way. They are trying to manage the city instead of governing it. They have put projects before people.”
His main issues are: “Fair taxation, economic growth, urban design, organization efficiency directed towards improving opportunities for people to pursue their potential.”
Heather MacKenzie:
“I’m running for Council because I’m a former Edmonton Public School Board Trustee, a new mother raising a child in the core, and someone with a background in local and international community development.”
“We need to unite our city’s residents and communities around the concept of sustaining and enhancing our existing infrastructure.”
Scott McKeen:
“My candidacy for council is a merger of my experience covering city hall as a journalist for 12 of my 24 years at The Edmonton Journal, with my desire to serve Edmonton.”
“I commit to advocating for the interests of Ward 6 to a council of largely suburban councillors. Ward 6 is Edmonton’s best chance to slow urban sprawl. My plan is to host a mini summit of civic officials, as well as developers, to establish Ward 6 as THE place to live, work and play.”
Alfie White:
“I’m running because I want to see more thought and input given to the planning and development of each project started in Edmonton.”
“My platform is: 1. Healthy Communities; 2. Ongoing Sustainability; 3. Social inclusion of our aboriginal and ethnic communities; and 4. Better planning and development.”
https://www.facebook.com/alfie.white.3382
Dexx Williams:
He’s running because “I realized in my role as a Community Liaison Constable that my ability to help is limited as just a police officer, and that much of the changes needed by the community must come from City Hall itself.”
“When elected I plan to improve the financial accountability, communication, and transparency at City Council to ensure our ward remains accessible, safe, and vibrant, with infrastructure properly maintained.”
