Infill, budget big issues: candidate
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Dave Anderson is back in the game, announcing his campaign to be elected councillor for Strathcona County’s Ward 2 in the fall municipal election.
“I love Sherwood Park. It would be a privilege to serve in that capacity, if I was elected,” said Anderson, who finished second and 634 votes behind Roxanne Carr in the 2007 Ward 2 election.
“What I’ve noticed in the past is that we’re very reactive as a county versus proactive, and I think I can be a part of that proactive change,” he said.
As a member of council, Anderson said there are three primary goals he would want to address: Prevent infill from happening in developed communities, fiscal responsibility and helping Strathcona County Emergency Services maintain its current service standards — something he said is already at a high level.
Although the county is researching ways it can revitalize its older neighbourhoods, infill is not a certainty since nothing has been decided by the municipality.
“I’m 100 per cent against infill in these older areas,” Anderson said, naming it the top issue in his ward. “A lot of people that I’m talking to are really nervous about it.”
He noted that he and his wife were attracted to Glen Allan due to its trees, proximity to schools, parks and low traffic volume.
“I kind of look at it as it’s frustrating because we made a conscious choice to buy where we did based on the information that was in front of us,” Anderson said.
Newer areas can be designed with higher density populations in mind, because people would be making a choice to move into that environment, versus it coming to them, he explained.
Discussing the municipality’s fiscal situation, Anderson praised county council for focusing on revising the budget process, but said an outside perspective will help.
“There are lots of ways for us to trim some of the fat off the bone to run a more lean (operation),” he said, noting he and his wife Colleen have had to work multiple jobs in the past to afford living in Sherwood Park due to the increasing property taxes (the couple are also raising three daughters).
Discussing medical needs in the community, Anderson said he would not weigh in on the issues surrounding Strathcona Community Hospital. However, “I want to see that we keep the same high level of standard for our EMS guys. They’re brilliant.... For the province to want us to drop down to their standard, I don’t agree with that. I think that from a municipal level, we can certainly support our EMS guys.”
Helping Strathcona County Emergency Services continue with its continuing education program and putting more ambulances into service is one way council can help, he said.
One of the larger issues the county is facing is the Capital Region Board’s investigation into establishing a regional transit system.
“I think in the long run (regional transit) is going to end up costing taxpayers more money and we’re going to get less service,” said Anderson, a former Strathcona County Transit bus driver.
That experience driving buses is an advantage, he said, because he is more familiar with issues and concerns the general public has.
Currently, Anderson is the northern Alberta and northern British Columbia operations manager for Shred-it, a post he’s held since last summer after he ran as a Liberal to be elected Sherwood Park MLA in the 2012 provincial election.
He is also on the board of directors for the local sexual assault centre SAFFRON, volunteers with the Friends of the Ukrainian Village Society and operates Uncle Milts Old Fashioned Root Beer during the summer. He was also a crisis intervention worker for the Boys and Girls Club in Edmonton for five years.
Running as a Liberal in a Conservative riding last year isn’t something Anderson believes will affect his chances for council.
“I think that this time there’s no party labels, municipally,” he said. “When you’re running party politics, you have to choose between the different parties and their ideals, whereas when you’re running municipally, you can pick the things that you like from differing areas... and you’re able to go on, basically, what you believe in. And you can take those ideas from everywhere, which I think is important.”
Anderson said he felt he would bring a strong listening ear and a to-the-point attitude on council.
“Anyone who knows me knows that if I have an opinion on something that I’m not afraid to say what it is,” he said. “I’m not going to be persuaded by the way that the wind blows. People know me to be aggressive when I need to be, diplomatic when I need to be and I’m pretty level-headed.
“I’m in this because, like I said, of the legacy of my kids. I want them to grow up in Sherwood Park. I want them to be in this community and I want to make sure that we’ve made it affordable for them when they decide to branch out on their own and go through university and decide that they want to come back to here.”
Discussing the upcoming election, he said, “It’s certainly not going to be an easy seat to take. I’m going to run the campaign like I’m 10 votes behind. I know that there’s going to be other people who are going to throw their hats into the arena and I just want to come out as the candidate that’s most committed to this community, and I think I’ve proven that.”
The municipal election will be held in October.
michael.dimassa@sunmedia.ca
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