My wife and I moved to Martensville about 7 years ago and have been raising our family here since. We love the small town feel that Martensville provides and have built strong relationships in the community. I am currently seeking re-election to city council as we look to keep Martensville moving forward as we manage the rapid growth of the city.
What is your main platform in this election? – Last election, I ran on good community, good business, and good finances. I would say that continues to reflect how I make decisions on council currently and I expect those same principles to guide me over the next four years. I think Martensville is on a good trajectory as we manage the growth that we continue to experience and plan to keep moving forward as a growing city.
What previous experience have you had that you feel would benefit you in this position if elected? – Outside of my existing council experience, I have worn a few different hats. I am currently a program manager and post-secondary instructor with a background in tech and finance. I am also nearly finished my Master’s degree in Business Administration, with a focus on Community Economic Development. When you look at governance and making long-term decisions that impact the community, I think this combination of experiences is extremely useful.
What are your thoughts on Martensville’s current economic development, and how do you think it could be improved? – Our current tax rates and incentives for industrial and commercial development are very attractive. However, I think with Kinsmen Park and the new Rec Centre we can begin to position Martensville as a regional destination. This will encourage more economic development long-term in the community and improve quality of life for existing residents through increased services and local job opportunities.
What are your thoughts on the current policing within the community and how do you feel safety within the community could be improved if necessary? – We’re always looking at how policing needs to evolve to better serve the community, especially as the city continues to grow. I think it’s important to note that Martensville is still one of the safest places in the province to live, with some of the lowest crime rates, and particularly when you consider the severity of crime. However, it’s important for residents to report any incidents to the RCMP, as we contract them for our policing and these reports inform how policing evolves. I’m also open to exploring what community-led initiatives could look like, such as a neighbourhood watch program. This is something that any resident could take the lead on and may be more effective than increasing our police budget. We are already preparing for an increase from covering 70% to 90% of our RCMP costs once we hit 15,000 population and to add on the costs some community members are proposing could easily add a few million to our annual operating budget, so we need to be cognizant of that.
