A man who promises to fight for small businesses and the less fortunate is the latest to enter Red Deer’s mayoral race
James Allen recently became a one-man picket with a sign against the City of Red Deer’s financing for Westener Park. The sign stated: “$22 million for wasteful Westerner, (zero) for you.”
Allen also recently wrote an opinion piece on Facebook declaring his “disgust” for another mayoral candidate’s suggestion about rounding up homeless people and sending them to other cities. Allen instead pledged to create a 10-year homeless assistance plan within his first 100 days in office.
“Through my years in the Calgary Highland Cadet Corps, and through… taking on hard jobs to barely scrape by, I have learned the value of hard work and dedication…. Through real-life experience, I have learned to stand firm in my convictions, to never back down from a challenge and to fight for what is right,” Allen stated.
He’s the fourth candidate who has announced he’s running for mayor of Red Deer. Allen joins businessman Dwight Hickey, former oilfield supervisor Brad Magee, and electrician and entrepreneur Jeremy Moore. Incumbent Mayor Tara Veer has not yet revealed whether she’s seeking re-election.
Two more new candidates are now officially competing for seats on Red Deer city council — Chad Krahn and Lindsay LaRocque.
Krahn is president of the Riverside Meadows Community Association and former office manager for South Red Deer constituency office. As a “community builder ” he wants to champion the Red Deer hospital expansion, strengthening the local economy, and helping develop a permanent homeless shelter for the city.
Krahn has worked to transform a vacant lot into a community garden. He and his wife are raising three kids and have fostered six children. Krahn said he’s worked with underprivileged youth, organized benefits, and preached sermons, as he holds a Masters degree in Theological Studies.
LaRocque works as a service manager at BearCom and has studied at NAIT. She has lived in Red Deer, where her daughter is now in high school, since 2003. “I’m invested in this community,” said LaRocque, who wants to make “Red Deer awesome again.”
One of her big concerns is the clean-up needed along parks and trails. After years of complaining, LaRocque says she wants to be part of the solution. “One of my big issues is all the homeless camps and needles… we have a beautiful parks system. We just need to clean it up a little.”
The two are running against previously announced city council candidates Graham Barclay, Matt Chapin, Grace Joy Engel, Sadia Khan, Ryan Laloge, Sheyi Olubowale, and Janise Somer.
Matt Gould is the latest to announce he’s running for a seat on the Red Deer Public School Board trustee.
The local artist, former businessman, and past artistic director of Tree House Youth Theatre, wants to continue serving the community as a progressive voice on the public school board. Gould also wants to “encourage the board to be more responsive to the community.”
He will be running for a public school trustee seat against Matt Chapin, Terri Grills, Meagan Parisian, and Jaelene Tweedle.
Anne Marie Watson is the first incumbent trustee to declare she’s running for re-election to the Red Deer Catholic School Board. She said she would be honoured to serve a fourth term.
The municipal election is on Oct. 18.
This story has been corrected to reflect James Allen’s opinion piece on his Facebook page on May 3 were regarding another mayoral candidate and not a sitting councillor.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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