Councillor candidates hit the hot seat to answer your questions.
The Cochrane Board of Trade hosted a debate last night where 17 of the 18 people running for six open council seats stated their platforms and answered your questions. Some of the topics discussed included helping residents afford to live here, rural roads and water rescue.
Here is a break down of the councillor platforms:
Daniel Belisle says he has worked in the community for over 40 years, as well as serving on multiple boards and done lots of volunteer work. Belisle says he believes his marketing background is an asset to town council. He says he has the time and ability to represent you on council.
Stephanie Bernier says she hopes to bring inclusion and unity to the council and mayoral seats. Bernier says there is a current divide at town hall that needs to be fixed. She adds that the residents need to be more in the loop and their voices need to be heard. Bernier says she will hit the round table with an open mind and put the town’s needs over the wants.
Claude Bourassa says he has given his heart to Cochrane for over 40 years. Bourassa says he sees a good mix of newcomers and experienced councillors working well together to forward the city. He says he is a team player that can work with anyone and what you see is what you get. He adds that micromanaging will not be good for the town and you have to pay attention to the big picture and quality of life.
Dean Breathat says he thins councillors need to be more active in the community. Breathat says you can’t just go from town hall to home as a councillor, you have to meet the people to find out what they want and need in the community. He says he will work as hard as he can to get things done.
Reynald Brisson says he pledges to work with council on being transparent and accountable for all the taxpayers. Brisson says by being fiscally responsible, Cochrane can lower its taxes. He says he want sot work on bettering the sidewalks, providing better services for seniors and youth and lower the town’s water bills.
Toss Calaiezzi says he was born and raised in Cochrane and grew up with a huge sense of pride for the community. Calaiezzi says right now Cochrane has that same sense of pride. He says the local facilities are second-to-none for a market this size. He says he would bring a professional, proactive and progressive outlook to council. He says Cochrane must manage tax revenues for affordable housing.
Michael Dumoulin says he wants to work as a team with council to make things more efficient. Dumoulin says he wants people to feel they are apart of the community and be aware of future plans. he says he wants to ensure all future investments have operational plans and the town increases tourism by working with surrounding communities.
Shea Henderson says he is fairly new to the community, only being in Cochrane for five years. Henderson is basing his platform on three key points: communication, collaboration and accessibility. He says people have a voice that needs to be heard and the town needs to keep an open dialogue to keep it accountable. He adds that people need to work together and share their individual expertise do everyone benefits in a positive way. Henderson says he will use these priorities to make his decision on council.
Rodney Hoogenhoud says Cochrane has grown and improved with things being done to the roads, infrastructure and arena, but more has to be done to attract and retain people. Hoofenhoud says the Cochrane Crunch is a huge asset to the community giving the down recognition and bringing in economic opportunities.
Robert Hutchinson says Cochrane is resilient in the face of change, but he wants to bring accountability and transparency to the roundtable. Hutchinson says the shape of the roads, cost of water and sewer, tax rates and a declining population are all very concerning. He says the community needs to work together to welcome new business and growth to bring healthier tax rates to Cochrane.
Jamie Mageau says Cochrane needs to continue on the course it is on to grow. Mageau says developing programs to help businesses and recreation will help the community continue on the path it is on. He says he is very proud to be a member of this community and you need to vote for the future of Cochrane to ensure it keeps moving forward instead of backwards.
Susan Daisy Nelson says affordable housing, mental health and youth engagement are all very important to her. Nelson says housing is a human right and the town needs to focus on making it affordable. She says the town needs to engage with the youth and build relationships with them. She adds that mental health and addiction awareness and education needs to be worked on because every person matters and we need to ensure our community stays safe by looking out for each other.
Desmond O’Connor says e has served as a volunteer, coach and member of many boards in tow for many years. O’Connor says being fiscally responsible should be engrained in anyone running for council, but you don’t have to be afraid of money or the thought of having good things for ourselves.
Darryl Owens says his sole focus will be on what Cochrane needs. Owens says he has watched Cochrane grow in size and prosperity over the years. He says he will continue to embrace change and make sure the town has a strong relationship with local business owners. He says he is not afraid to voice his opinion and ensure Cochrane has what it needs to move forward.
Marck Recoskie says it’s very important that the town continues to flourish. Recoskie says he is running his platform the way he lives his life; working hard, being dedicated and not giving up. He says for every problem there is a solution and you are never too smart or old to learn a new way of doing things. He says he will not be pushed into making decisions without knowing every aspect of it first.
Jane Skidmore-Fox says she wants to invest in you. Skidmore- Fox says she wants to help create a quality of life in Cochrane so you can live, work and play without always having to open your wallet. She says council has to work as a team and as an open book. She adds she wants to provide Cochrane with a solid budget that addresses things like rural roads, investigate and provide natural gas to rural residents and help implement seatbelts on school buses.
Scott Ulvstal says he wants to work honestly because you deserve answers, transparently because tax dollars are the lifeblood of town and you deserve to know where it goes and accountable to own up to, correct and learn from any mistakes that could be made along the way. Ulvstal says Cochrane is in a special place right now with the number of resources, facilities and events that are run and it can’t afford to lose that.
Frank Sisco was not able to attend the debate.
The municipal election will take place on Monday.