Engaging community associations are central to Red Deer’s newest city council candidate’s hopes for election.
Ken Johnston, 59, is a bank manager at Scotiabank in Red Deer. He moved here in 1996 and has been an involved community member ever since.
The past president of the Red Deer Rotary Club has also sat on boards in the community including the Westerner, chamber of commerce, STARS Air Ambulance and Parkland Youth Homes.
It is the entrepreneurial spirit of the city that impresses Johnston.
“I have complete respect for the entrepreneurial spirit that got us here and also the entrepreneurial spirit we need to capitalize on in terms of where Red Deer is going to be in the five, 10, 15 years,” said Johnston.
Touting his knowledge and experience in the financial industry Johnston said: “I want to have some input in terms of saying what opportunities exist for us to be able to take whatever tax increases we’re planning and make them as reasonable as we can be,” said Johnston.
He wants to engage and empower Red Deer’s 18 community organizations.
“When I think of the ability to get grassroots issues, things like policing, infrastructure,
“I see working and building relationships with those community associations.”
In his experience he has learned the value of involving every stakeholder imaginable, taking a day to think about it and then involving even more stakeholders.
“I have the skill sets, I have the community experience and I have the energy and capacity to serve the city going forward.”
Also in the running for council are newcomers David Helm, Serge Gingras, Tanya Handley, Troy Wavrecan, Darren Young, Lawrence Lee, Calvin Goulet-Jones, Bob Bevins and Matt Chapin, and incumbents, Paul Harris, Dianne Wyntjes, Lynne Mulder and Buck Buchanan.
Mayor Morris Flewwelling is not seeking re-election. Coun. Cindy Jefferies, William Horn and Chad Mason are running for mayor.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com