The 51暗网 posed questions to the 23 candidates running for mayor and council in the Oct. 21 municipal election. Printed here are the candidates鈥� responses, in their own words, to the first of those questions. The remaining answers will be published in the Oct. 10 and 17 issues. If you have specific questions you鈥檇 like to ask the candidates, email them to [email protected] and our editorial team will do its best to track down the candidates and get the answers you need.
What is your motivation for running in the election this year?
Candidates for mayor:
Cloud Byrd
Candidates for council:
Vona Arsenault
Ah 鈥� finally a question for the creative side. Motivation for the most part is about finding limitations and obstacles and often has a one-off kind of response. Motivation is often about getting ready to do something you don't really want to do.I work from the seat of inspiration. I am inspired to run in this election. The word actually comes from the word spirit. Passion in doing what you do gives confidence and faith to persist even when failure is a possibility. At the office we have a slogan 鈥榓h, another failure. Success is imminent!' I see what I am doing as a being a part of big picture, not a means to an end. Inspired people change the world.
In 2001 we created a documentary on the volunteer spirit found here in Jasper. Through the lens I was introduced to many of the pioneer residents of this little mountain community. These individuals represent the creative and independent type of people who helped shape the place we enjoy today. It is with respect for their vision, care and desires that I choose to become involved as a council representative. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Paul Butler"] I have something to contribute, I like to be involved in change and the time is right for me. Over the
years I've built up a combination of knowledge, experience and skills:
鈥� I'm a clear communicator.
鈥� I'm quite firmly planted in the centre: I'm just not a radical guy.
鈥� I value consensus and compromise, but I will never vote for something I don't believe in.
鈥� I'm passionately opinionated and work best with others equally so, especially if we don't agree.
鈥� I question deeply to find commonalities among disparate points of view.
鈥� I'm a persuasive debater and a careful listener.
鈥� I'm a big-picture thinker who looks for the devils in the details.
鈥� I'm avidly committed to my argument, right up to the point when I hear a better one.
鈥� While I'm informed by personal experience, I can and do set aside personal preference in favour of broad community benefit.
鈥� I base my opinion on facts, so I take the time to learn the facts.
I want to exercise my skill set in a new way and in a way that matters to my community. For me it would be a challenge, a pleasure and an honour to sit on council. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Sebastian Byrd"] It鈥檚 time for a change. The way this town is being run is not sustainable. The housing in Jasper hit zero per cent this year, if that鈥檚 not a red flag, I don鈥檛 know what is. I鈥檓 not afraid of hard work and going the extra mile for my town and its constituents. Democracy is about the people having a say, and it鈥檚 been a tyranny of the minority so far. It鈥檚 time for the rest of Jasper to stand up and have a say. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Bob Covey"] My motivation to run for council comes from a desire to work with a variety of leaders who are passionate about the future of an amazing community. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Rico Damota (incumbent)"] I'm motivated by the people that live here, and the passion that I have for the place I live in. I want to continue working toward making our town a better and easier place to live in, as well as visit. We need to work toward making this town affordable for families, seniors and visitors alike. There are a few things we have started that I would like to see through, for at least one more term anyway, if the community allows it. Jasper is one of the best places in the world, and I love our town. [/accordion]
[accordion title="John Glaves"] My motivation for running for office is that I believe democracy is a privilege, and as such, everyone should take part as best they can, whether it鈥檚 running for office or getting out exercising their vote. At this point in my life, I feel I can be of assistance to the community, and thusly, I have thrown my name into the hat. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Dong Han"] As a Christian, I pray and thank God for blessing me with health and my family every day. I am thankful that I have received so much from Canada, my home, to have been loved by my friends, neighbours and fellow Jasperites. How could I ask more? I thought to myself that now is the time to give back to my friends, neighbours and to the Jasper community.
With honest hard work and my rich life experiences, I can empathize, understand and represent many prospectives. As a long-time Jasper resident, a senior and a visible minority, I have many ideas and deep passion for making Jasper a better place for all of us. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Paul Height"] Over many years, I have raised numerous concerns with how the municipality was being operated, both in public media and forums and directly to council and municipal managers, only to suffer municipally-funded negative feedback. I know what it is like to be a whistle blower, to fight city hall, and to be back stabbed. Now to paraphrase, it is time for me to put my money where my mouth is, and to take my concerns directly on instead of to council and the municipal managers. I am hoping that on council I will be able to persuade a majority of its members to pursue mine and their community concerns. Where presentations to council are formal and therefore unnerving to some, I would encourage periodic 鈥渢own hall鈥� meetings where the residents could meet with the council members on an informal and open basis. I understand that to properly serve as a councillor, including on three committees, that it may require an average of 15 to 20 hours a week. To be fair to all the other councillors and the residents of Jasper, I now have and I will continue to ensure that I have the time available to meet their requirements. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Helen Kelleher-Empey"] I love this community and am thankful for all the different experiences that living here has given me. I strongly believe in giving back to the community and want to be a part of the future of the community. The time is right in my life and I feel that I am now fully able, willing and prepared to represent my community on a political level. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Fred Kreiner"] First and foremost, my love for my community. Though I am a fairly recent arrival to Jasper, this community has been an important part of my life for many years; as a child during weekend ski trips, as a visitor to my father who has lived here for 20 years and as a school trustee who helped foster the partnership between GYPSD and Conseil Centre-Nord for the construction of the new joint school. There is an interesting dynamic in the values of this community that closely align with my own beliefs and values. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Brian Nesbitt"] My main motivation for running is the many friends and fellow residents who asked and encouraged me to run. By the sheer number of candidates, it is apparent that there is a desire for change, which is fine, but experience and common sense are also important, and I can also deliver that. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Rich Potter"] I certainly don鈥檛 have an axe to grind. My motivation is purely one of service, of giving back to this amazing community that has allowed me and my family to enjoy a great lifestyle over the years. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Monika Schaefer"] There is nothing lofty here. I'm just doing what I like doing: be engaged, get involved, discuss issues, debate, persuade and try to make the best decisions possible based on my values and principles. People have encouraged me to run, and this is a good time in my life to do it. That's it in a nutshell. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Jeff Smith"] I plan to make Jasper my home for the rest of my life. I want to ensure that the integral services for our community are secure for future generations. This is a great town and I want it to be that way for all time.聽 [/accordion]
[accordion title="Jack Templeton"]聽Now that I am retired, I have the time, interest and desire to participate in municipal affairs. I have experienced many changes to the town in the past and would like to participate more actively in Jasper's future. I came to Jasper 32 years ago and have no intention of leaving, as I have felt for quite some time that this is where I belong and where I should bring up my family and remain. I believe that with my formal training and experience in finance, accounting and administration and being in the position of CAO and CFO in my previous work experience, I can understand and appreciate some of the challenges faced by administration and assist in supporting their efforts in the future. I have voiced my opinion publicly both in writing and verbally in the past and have felt frustrated that I was unable to participate in the decision-making process of council on issues that I thought were important to the community. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Ann Thomas"] My motivation is to serve the community I love, provide thoughtful leadership and to plan for the future of Jasper, not just for the next four years but for the next 40. I intend to represent the views of the residents of Jasper to the best of my ability in order to help keep Jasper the unique, inclusive and supportive community it is. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Dwain Wacko (incumbent)"] I enjoy the involvement in the affairs of our community and the collaborative decision making process that takes place at the council table. At this point, my business is in a good position to allow me the time to devote to council responsibilities. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Gilbert Wall (incumbent)"] My motivation in running, at the very least is to kick start a conversation around these challenges. If elected I will meet them head on. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Heather Young-Leslie"] I've always enjoyed getting involved and contributing to community, as my volunteer work will attest. My inspiration to run for council came originally from seeing Councillors Kongsrud, Zinck, Day, Skehill, Damota, Melnyk and Wacko, and Mayor Ireland, in action. It didn't hurt that several of them encouraged me to think about running and answered my questions about the work involved. But it is the realization that Jasper is at a kind of watershed moment in our history as a municipality that convinced me to run now. There are serious issues that we need to face as a town, and I think I can be the difference that makes a difference.聽 [/accordion]
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