MUNICIPAL ELECTION
Only Clugston for mayor so far
With about eight months to the next municipal election there is only one declared candidate for mayor.
Mayor Ted Clugston announced last month he will run for a second term while other possible contenders are still contemplating the challenge.
Phil Turnbull, who finished second to Clugston in the last election, has registered as a candidate but will only run for mayor in certain circumstances.
“If nobody ran against the mayor,” said Turnbull. “I would probably run just to debate him. I believe nobody should just be voted in by acclimation. That might spur me to run.”
Turnbull admits to wanting to be part of council and be involved in decision making. He believes different decisions in the past would have put the city in a better financial situation than it is currently. As far back as 2011 council should have addressed issues related to gas, he said.
“Their strategy was ‘hope’,” said Turnbull. “Hope the price would come back regardless of what all the industry was telling them.”
Turnbull is hearing from the general public urging him to run. Factoring into his decision is the potential impact on his family. Running and winning also means a four-year commitment but he says he is not closing any doors at this point.
Coun. Bill Cocks, whom some have thought would be a contender for mayor, says he will run as councillor.
“I have had people encourage me to consider running for mayor,” said Cocks, who ran for mayor once before.
Running for mayor unsuccessfully means no longer having a position as councillor either.
“It’s an all-or-nothing proposition. If you don’t win then you’re away from the table and away from the decision-making process likely for the whole term,” said Cocks. “I think at the current time my role as councillor is one that’s respected and valued and that’s where I intend to offer my service.”
Cocks was councillor from 1998 to 2007 and this current term. He believes having a blend of new and experienced councillors is important.
Ask Coun. Julie Friesen if she is going to run for mayor and there is a little laugh initially.
“I doubt it but the door is never completely closed,” said Friesen, who ran for mayor in 2010. At the time it was the right thing to do, she said.
“I do believe this council has, for the first time in quite a few years, really formed a solid team,” said Friesen.
The decisions may not have pleased all but Friesen believes they have been right for the city.
“I am not sure I’m as driven as I was before,” said Friesen. “I’m not sure upsetting the apple cart is necessary.”
Running for mayor means being OK with giving up a job elsewhere. That choice has ramifications for the future. If elected mayor it is only a sure thing for four years, said Friesen.
This is Coun. Robert Dumanowski’s fifth term as councillor for a total of 16 years.
“The mayoral role is not something I would be pursuing at this time,” said Dumanowski, noting he is not prepared to give up his day job. “It still have 10 or 12 years left in my career.”
Coun. Les Pearson has already decided he will run for another term as councillor but ask him if he will run for mayor and there is a hearty laugh.
“I have limited ambitions,” said Pearson.
See Monday’s News for a related story on city council