After watching his father sit on MD of Foothills council for 15 years, a born-and-raised Davisburg-area man is hoping to follow in his footsteps.
Jay Groeneveld is the first out of the gate for October’s municipal election after filing his intent to run for office with the MD of Foothills on March 8.
He’s carrying on a family tradition. His father, Flores Groeneveld was an MD councillor from 1989 to 2004 and served as reeve from 1992 to 1997.
Despite the family’s history with MD council, some of his closest friends and relatives were surprised to hear Groeneveld put his name forward for the 2017 municipal election.
“I think a lot of people, when I tell them what I’m intending to do, are surprised and maybe not so surprised, especially family,” said Groeneveld.
He said running for a spot on MD council was always in the back of his mind. He saw his father in action while he grew up in what is now referred to as Division 7, spanning east of Okotoks from Aldersyde to Heritage Pointe and northern border of the division.
“I was born and raised here, and Angela and I are raising our children here now, so there’s an interest in the long-term in that sense,” said Groeneveld. “Watching my dad go through it, I had a background knowledge. So, at this point, having it presented to me, I kind of knew what I was getting into, to some degree.”
Coun. Ted Mills doesn’t intend to run again in Division 7, leaving a vacancy after serving on council since 2004. Mills said he’s loved the job and serving residents of the MD, but his family is calling.
“I have a number of grandchildren I’ve kind of missed over the last few years, the younger ones, I’m just not seeing them,” said Mills. “If it wasn’t for family, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
Groeneveld said he has big shoes to fill, as he looks to replace Mills, who has served for 13 years, and Flores, who was on MD council for 15 years.
He intends to pick both of their brains for advice as the campaign draws nearer, he said. Groeneveld also intends to attend a few MD council meetings to get a feel for the procedures.
“I feel I’ve got a lot of learning to do, asking some questions,” he said. “By no means do I have everything figured out, I’ve still got a learning curve between now and September and if I do get elected then an even steeper learning curve at that point.”
He hopes his background will help with the learning process. His first degree was in agricultural production, and he returned to school years later to earn a degree in civic engineering technology. Groeneveld grew up on a farm and still grows hay and raises cattle.
His “other fulll-time” job involves project management for environmental reclamation and construction.
“That’s where my interest is in this, kind of a combination of the two, both educations and both work experiences,” he said. “I think there’s a unique background there, combining agricultural history with forward-thinking construction mindset.”
Groeneveld said it’s all about balance and he brings along a respect for the land as well as for development, which is a constant battle faced by the MD.
“You’re always facing development and the push for growth, it’s just how you manage it and how you balance it,” he said.
Mills said the current council has been able to preserve agricultural land by identifying certain areas for growth and he hopes anyone who follows in his footsteps will keep that mindset. He’s endorsing Groeneveld for the job, saying he brings unique experience to the table could be very beneficial to the MD of Foothills council as it deals with further pressure to grow.
“I think Jay offers to the residents somebody who can look at both sides of the picture and understand both sides,” said Mills. “That’s a big thing, because lots of us either are all on this side, or all on this side, and really don’t have that middle, and I think that’s something that will be good to have.”
Groeneveld said he’s up to the challenge, and he has the full support of his family moving forward.
“Everyone’s on board and supportive and wants to help out and understands the time commitment,” said Groeneveld. “We’re excited. If we get the opportunity, and voters see fit and we get the chance to do it, then yeah, we’re all excited to push forward.”
