Incumbent mayor seeks re-election Incumbent mayor Terry Leslie does not consider his mission to be completed, and he remains committed to serving the Town of Sundre.
Incumbent mayor seeks re-election
Incumbent mayor Terry Leslie does not consider his mission to be completed, and he remains committed to serving the Town of Sundre.
"I'm running for re-election because I haven't finished giving back to the community that helped raise my children, and is currently helping to raise three of my grandchildren," he told the Round Up.
His vision for the future is to reinvigorate a "new pioneer" spirit that will forge ahead to plan for Sundre's growth past a population of 5,000.
"Just as we all marvel at the tenacity and pioneer spirit that got us a hospital, arena, curling rink, Aquaplex, performing arts centre, skateboard park and every other community facility, I want to lead us to focus on what our legacy will be for our grandchildren. We can all harness our optimism and creativity to focus on the decades to come, while we affordably manage the present."
His priorities include dealing with the aging hospital and RCMP detachment, promoting Sundre as a destination, reassessing options for broadband Internet, building a better relationship with Mountain View County, and striving to improve communication with the community.
"I love the job of serving you as mayor and I want to carry on the work of continuously improving and growing this amazing community I am proud to call home."
Councillor feels ready to take the helm
An incumbent Sundre councillor and local businessman who has served two terms over a period of seven years has decided to run for mayor.
"It's time for change," Chris Vardas told the Round Up.
"What I would like to do is try to make it more attractive for businesses to come to town."
That will mean initiating a review of local regulations and bylaws to eliminate potential redundancies and reduce red tape. But more importantly, the municipality must strive to work with developers to promote new affordable housing developments for first-time homebuyers to encourage residential growth that will in turn support local business and generate more tax revenue, he said.
Part of that vision involves further beautifying the community's existing aesthetics and improving infrastructure, including the potential for broadband Internet, he said.
"I've been in town 26 years," and although growth has not stagnated it has not exactly been booming either, he said.
Diversifying the local economy is key to moving forward. Gone should be the days of being over-dependent on the oilpatch and lumber industry — which remain important pillars — and a greater emphasis should be placed on developing tourism.
"It's time for new direction," he said.
"Now is the time to actually move and make something happen."
