Candidate focused on ideas, not age
Aaron Kernaghan is aiming to be the youngest person elected to Saskatoon city council, even though he refuses to focus on his age.
Kernaghan, who turns 21 in August, intends to run for council in Ward 9 in the Oct. 26 election.
“I think when (residents) talk to me, they realize I’m a serious candidate and that my age shouldn’t play that much of a factor,” Kernaghan said in an interview Wednesday.
The second-year linguistics student at the University of Saskatchewan would like to see a version of the city’s budget written in plainer language so it is accessible to more people.
He also wants to see more responsible city spending, pointing to a transit mechanic who more than doubled his salary in overtime in 2015.
“We do a lot of what I would call Band-Aid solutions in this city,” Kernaghan said.
He wants to focus on community events to strengthen civic pride. Kernaghan envisions a two-day event where various community groups could congregate to showcase activities available in the city.
The rock-climbing enthusiast joins Jeff Jackson and Robin Mowat as declared Ward 9 candidates. Veteran Coun. Tiffany Paulsen announced in May she would not be seeking another term.
Ward 10 Coun. Zach Jeffries became the youngest person elected to council in 2012 at 26.