Future planning, downtown development and strong community ties are at the forefront of an Okotoks councillor's campaign as she enters the mayoral race.
Future planning, downtown development and strong community ties are at the forefront of an Okotoks councillor's campaign as she enters the mayoral race.
Carrie Fischer, who has been on Town council since 2013, announced tonight that she is running for mayor of Okotoks in the 2017 election.
“We've got a lot going on right now in Okotoks,” said Fischer. “We've got the annexation we were just awarded the decision on and we've really got a push for the funding for the pipeline,” she said. “There's the planning of all that annexed area that has to come in the next couple of years, and there's a lot on economic development and downtown development and really making a strong community.
“I think I'm the leader who can do it.”
She said the work that needs to be done in Okotoks in the coming years will require a lot of communication and public engagement to help plan the next phases of Okotoks, and her leadership style will push that engagement forward.
“I've got a known track record for a very engaged leadership style, and the ability to talk to many different facets of the community and recognize that it's not always going to be easy,” said Fischer.
With annexation and questions of how best to develop with regards to water, Fischer said it's critical to tackle difficult conversations in order to create the best design for the community as it moves forward.
She said her first four years at the council table have shown her just how important public engagement is.
“I really understand that we need to have a conversation with our community around vision for the future, and not having that conversation has been challenging,” said Fischer. “You get to a point where you're either part of the problem or you're part of the solution, and I want to lead us to the solution.”
Her campaign comes with the support and encouragement of her family, which is 100 per cent on board and have driven her to throw her hat in the ring.
She said her fellow council members may not all be supportive of the decision, but that's part of the democratic process. No matter what happens, she said she's ready for the challenge.
“I never go into these things thinking it's easy, but I do have a lot of campaign experience and I've got a great team that's coming around me, and I think together we can make it happen,” said Fischer.
Coun. Tanya Thorn said the mayoral race will be especially important in this year's election, because Okotoks is in the process of opening a new chapter with its focus on innovation and sustainability.
“We have this great, exciting opportunity ahead of us, and I think this requires people of vision and creativity at the council table,” said Thorn.
She said she believes good government comes from discussion on critical issues, which often arise during campaigns and usually raise different perspectives.
Okotoks has some major issues that need to be considered this year, including future development and water, she said. She said Fischer has been a strong voice at the council table and she's interested to see how issues are discussed over the next four months.
“I'm really looking forward to this campaign and hearing perspectives on what those issues are and the visions that candidates in the campaign are going to bring to Okotoks,” said Thorn. “I'm a big believer that our community needs strong leadership, and whichever candidate can bring me that strong leadership, that's where I'm at.
“Vision will be the big thing for me, having vision.”
The 2017 municipal election takes place on Oct. 16.
