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Byelection nonimations are in

Four candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for next month’s municipal byelection in Black Diamond.

Four candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for next month’s municipal byelection in Black Diamond.

Glen Fagan and Leslie Miller are running for the mayor’s chair, while Dave Geske and Brian Marconi are running for a councillor seat after submitting nomination forms Monday morning. They have until noon on Tuesday to withdraw their submission. If the nominations stand, Black Diamond residents will head to the polls on Aug. 22.

They are already gearing up for the campaign.

“I think it’s time for a new vision and time for a change,” said Marconi on Monday morning. “People say, ‘You’ve got the ideas, you’ve got the knowledge, you seem to want to make some changes – go for it.’”

The councillor position opened when Michel Jackson submitted his resignation on May 26 due to health reasons. Former mayor Sharlene Brown resigned the following day after being hired as the Town’s new chief administrative officer. Deputy mayor Ruth Goodwin will fill in as mayor until the position is filled.

An election forum has been scheduled for Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Griffiths Seniors Centre.

Marconi, a resident of Black Diamond for two years, said if elected he would like to have all town operations reviewed to determine where money can be saved for taxpayers and establish performance contracts.

“It’s time to bring in what they call best-in-class business practices, zero based budgeting, quarterly budget reviews by council,” said Marconi, who has a background in business. “It’s bringing in performance contracts so people know what’s expected of them and what meets the expectation versus exceeds the expectations.”

Marconi has been attending council meetings the past 18 months, often approaching council with questions about issues on the table.

Dave Geske said he wants to hear residents’ concerns before forming any opinions.

“It’s about creating a plan and a strategy that addresses concerns and opportunities,” he said. “Our taxes are high, but you need to service the town. You need to find that balance.”

A member of the Town’s economic development committee for three years, Geske said he’s learned the importance of conversing with the public and being open to ideas and will be knocking on doors to learn what those concerns are.

“For me it’s about getting all concerns, ideas and challenges and having a really good conversation and being really open about decisions,” he said. “Sometimes little towns are rumor mills and openness is the only thing that can squash rumors.”

The Black Diamond resident of five years said he’s had a long successful business career with degrees in business courses like corporate governance.

Mayoral candidate Leslie Miller has spent the last month knocking on doors to hear from residents and he plans to act upon their concerns.

“Whatever the citizens’ concerns are, I want to hear them,” he said. “My goal is by Aug. 11 to have talked to every resident and business owner.”

Miller said he joined the Town’s economic development committee two years ago, and spent most of the time as the chairman. He also volunteers for the Griffiths Senior Centre, Turner Valley Legion and Black Diamond Gospel Chapel.

The Black Diamond resident of three years said he began exploring the idea of running for mayor last winter.

“I thought I had 17 months to prepare and got fast-tracked,” he said.

Miller has 40 year experience in the tourism industry, 30 of which were spent running hotels.

Glen Fagan, a resident of Black Diamond for eight years, has been keeping track of council issues at the meetings the past 18 months as a member of the Concerned Taxpayers of Black Diamond.

“With the experience I’ve had with council and my involvement at that level I’ve probably got a higher level of exposure to what’s been happening in the community than the other candidates,” he said. “I’ve been involved in that level for some time. I have a large community group behind me.”

Fagan said he believes the hard work of the concerned taxpayers has had an impression on council.

“We have had some influence in having them look at taxation differently,” he said, adding after experiencing large tax increases for years taxes only increased by 2.6 per cent in 2015 over 2014 and there was a reduction this year rather than an increase.

The municipal by-election will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the municipal building basement on Aug. 22. The advanced polls are scheduled for Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the same location.

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