In the crowded Ward 11 race, eight candidates make their pitches for Diotte’s vacant council seat.
Ward 11 forum hears from eight candidates
A field of eight candidates cast for votes on Thursday night in one of Edmonton’s most hotly contested city council races.
Addressing a crowd packed into the gymnasium at J. Percy Page Composite High School, the candidates in south-central Ward 11 struck chords with the audience by touching on a number of hotbutton issues, ranging from the LRT to fixing potholes, snow removal, better facilities for youth and seniors, property taxes, the city’s debt, removing fluoride from municipal drinking water and business development.
Vying for the council seat vacated by mayoral hopeful Kerry Diotte, the group participated in a two-hour forum during which they introduced their backgrounds, laid out their platforms and asked for support.
Mike Nickel, who served on council from 2004 to 2007 until he was ousted by current mayoral candidate Don Iveson, said his experience is vital at a time when a new mayor and at least six new councillors will be elected (six wards have no incumbents).
“I have sat on council before and I know how City Hall works,” Nickel said. “There will be no on-the-job training for me.
“We have mature neighbourhoods that need a lot of love and attention, and I feel it is our turn to have our problems addressed. You need a strong, experienced voice to deliver that message downtown.”
In a room with campaign brochures piled on chairs and ardent supporters holding placards, the candidates politely explained their visions for improving living conditions in the ward, which stretches south from Ritchie to Mill Woods.
The crowded field also includes Rob Aromin, Sonia Bitar, Mujahid Chak, Dennis Gane, Roberto Maglalang, Harvey Panesar and Brent Schaffrick.
A former citizenship judge and board member of the Edmonton Community Foundation, Bitar said she has to date visited 70 per cent of the homes in the ward while campaigning.
“People complain we don’t have activity places for youth; when I am elected, I will make sure we do,” said Bitar, who has lived in Mill Woods for 33 years.
A resident for 38 years, Chak made an impassioned plea.
“I know the roads need to be fixed, I have seen the basements that have been flooded, and as a senior I know the struggles,” the 69-yearold said. “As a retiree, I can devote all of my time to the community. I want your vote to be your voice on council.”
An economics teacher and executive with companies involved in the energy, chemical, steel, food and other industries, Maglalang promised to devote his first 100 days in office to generating employment and income within the ward.
“I have a large amount of experience and I thought it was about time that I shared what I have learned in the private sector,” he said. Th e Journal is covering th e cit y-sponsored candidate forums in each of the 12 wards. We ’re also covering th e three cit y-sponsored mayoral forums. Visit our el ection page at edmontonjournal.com/ civic el ection to l earn wh en and where the forums are happening , and to see all our coverage of th e 2013 civic el ection campaig n .