Your guide to the civic election: Wards 1 & 2
Sutherland facing four challengers in riding that now includes Royal Oak
Dawn Stewart’s view of the city is coloured by a terrifying incident she survived last January in downtown Calgary — the 12-year Ward 1 resident fought off a drug-addicted sex attacker.
“The biggest issue I see right now is crime and the opioid crisis, and the fact police officers have to ride single in the downtown area to meet demand,” the denizen of Royal Oak said.
Closer to home, concerns about traffic safety are a common refrain, particularly stubborn concerns over heavy dump truck traffic at 112 Avenue and Country Hills Boulevard N.W.
“I’ve seen accidents where minivans coming out of the neighbourhood are sandwiched between gravel trucks,” Stewart said.
Challenger Chris Blatch said Coun. Ward Sutherland has had time to fix numerous problems in the ward and failed, adding the politician is vulnerable by being a member of an unpopular city council.
“From what I am hearing at the doors, Ward Sutherland is not being hurt by a negative perception of city council. Rather, he is one of the major causes of a negative perception of council,” said librarian Blatch.
Blatch said rising crime rates in areas such as Tuscany and unsafe driving are common concerns, as are painful tax rates on residents and businesses.
Sutherland, however, noted Blatch’s contention that he’s in political trouble is hogwash because residents know his record in fixing critical infrastructure is sound.
“I get stuff done and people aren’t oblivious to that,” said Sutherland, who is vying for a second term.
He said his efforts to transfer $10 million into upgrading 112 Avenue and getting it linked into Stoney Trail will soon bear fruit in reducing truck traffic at the “failed intersection” at Country Hills Boulevard.
Sutherland also said he’s been working with schools and police to improve safety for kids on area streets.
But Ward 1 hopeful Coral Bliss Taylor said Sutherland has grown distant from residents, adding she would provide better constituent access to city hall.
“I am committed to engaging with voters and representing them in council,” Bliss Taylor said. “The community has informed me that the current Ward 1 councillor has not done that, and they are upset about it.”
Businessman Cam Khan is emphatic that not enough power is vested in the most local, grassroots form of governing in Calgary.
“I am running for community associations,” he said. “All communities’ associations will be very powerful with maximum authorities and discretion to spend city’s community development funding for the welfare of the society, improvement and development of their communities.”
Cole Christensen said he has heard similar yearnings from voters who feel left out in the ward. But he’s also heard more immediate concerns, as he’s made the rounds in the constituency, and one of them is an issue Mayor Naheed Nenshi considers his largest regret from the past seven years.
“What I’ve learned from doorknocking is prioritizing access to affordable housing and secondary suites” is important, said Christensen, a lifetime ward resident.
Another “main concern is the need for safer streets for kids walking to school in our neighbourhoods,” he said.
Changes to riding boundaries in Ward 1 have added Royal Oak to the ward, which many see as a natural move since it unites the area with its longtime community association partner, Rocky Ridge.