New city councillors reflect on successes and lessons learned in first year on job
Rookies were pushed into deep end with budget issues and handling ward business
In the October 2016 civic election, four new councillors were elected to Regina city council. Since then, they have dealt with two different budgets due to the loss of grantsin-lieu funding, many calls and emails from residents on various issues, and have learned a lot along the way.
While the councillors found the past year overwhelming at times, they also viewed it as a positive experience.
ANDREW STEVENS (WARD 3)
Elected with 60.5 per cent of the vote and replacing outgoing councillor Shawn Fraser, Stevens looks back on his first year as a profound learning experience.
“I had not really understood the complexity of a city, or the breadth of what a council deals with, and the level of detail involved with running the City of Regina,” Stevens said. “I have started to appreciate that a city councillor has to be a jack-of-all-trades and you have to be willing to learn, willing to speak with people, and have lots of communication skills.”
Stevens has been active on council and in the community, working to put forward motions with community groups. One motion in particular, Access Without Fear, failed to pass but was something Stevens is proud of.
“Dozens of community members got together and we worked as a team to craft a motion with public outreach and research,” Stevens said.
“The great accomplishment there was bringing together people who may not know how a city runs, or about civic engagement, and they came to council and endorsed a motion. For me, that is how civic government should work.”
Heading into his next year, top priority is being there for his son Logan, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. On the city side of things, Stevens would like to deal with homelessness, affordable housing, implement an arts policy and develop zoning bylaws that respect building heritage.
Looking back on the past year, Stevens said he would not do anything different.
“I learn by mistakes, but that is how I learn best,” he said. “If something doesn’t succeed, that is when you do most of your learning. I would put forward the same motions, the same way. It is democracy, you win and you lose.”
LORI BRESCIANI (WARD 4)
While the other three new councillors took over vacant seats, Lori Bresciani defeated an incumbent when she unseated Byron Burnett by 59 votes. Bresciani, who took 40.15 per cent of the votes in her ward, has found the past year to be a productive one.
“It has been lots of new learning,” Bresciani said. “It has been a big learning curve ... taking the time to meet residents and answering emails and phone calls, going out to events as well. The time is huge. It is very busy.”
Bresciani has found one of the most satisfying parts of being councillor is giving a voice to the people in her ward through the community meetings she hosts.
“I was able to get to know residents and their concerns,” Bresciani said. “When I knew something was coming up from the city that they wanted more information on, then I could reach out to those residents ... communication is key.”
Going into 2018, Bresciani would like to help everyone prepare for the 2018 budget.
“I want to ensure we have cost savings so that we can have an affordable and sustainable budget for the citizens of Regina.”
Looking back on this past year, Bresciani doesn’t hesitate when asked if she would do it all again, knowing the work involved.
“Absolutely I would,” she said. “It is one thing to sit back and complain, but nothing changes. I am a believer that you need to get involved to see that change happen.”
While it has been a busy year for Bresciani, she is happy for the opportunity.
“I am very thankful to have the opportunity to serve my community.”
JOEL MURRAY (WARD 6)
After Wade Murray chose not to run in the election, many challengers emerged to fill the vacant seat in Ward 6. As it happened, Wade’s son Joel would pick up 26.64 per cent of the vote, winning the contest.
“I had a good idea (what to expect) going in, but you never know until you are actually in the public eye,” Murray said.
With community safety as a major priority, Murray has served on the police commission, done ridealongs with police and researched innovative ways to reduce crime in his ward.
“Being on the police commission, I have a good concept of where we can go and improve things,” Murray said. “Things like increasing the crime prevention through environmental design, as well as getting that community hub policing model up and running.”
One major challenge for Murray was overcoming the first section of the second budget.
“That was a lot of sleepless nights,” Murray said.
He also had high praise for his council colleagues, especially following the cancer diagnosis of Stevens’ son.
“This council has come together in a lot of different ways,” Murray said. “We have four new councillors, which is a big shift and just recently, with Andrew’s son being diagnosed with cancer, it has brought council together.”
JASON MANCINELLI (WARD 9)
Elected with 53.88 per cent of the vote, and taking over from incumbent Terry Hincks, who died just before the election, Mancinelli has been active on council.
This past month, he helped bring an end to the long taxi bylaw amendment debate on a seasonal licence lottery by putting forward a motion to allocate 60 per cent of licences to the lottery only.
Mancinelli could not be reached by press deadline.