Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
Paul Butler has announced he is running for mayor this upcoming municipal election after four years of sitting on council.
Butler explained how it was time to take Jasper in a new direction, referring to how the town has had only one mayor, Richard Ireland, since its incorporation 20 years ago. Ireland also chaired the town committee before that.
鈥淚鈥檝e heard from many residents around the community that Richard鈥檚 skills and dedication and commitment are admired and appreciated,鈥� Butler said.
鈥淚鈥檝e heard lots of gratitude, but I鈥檝e also heard鈥� after 32 years of leadership under Richard鈥檚 capable hands, it is time to, respectfully, move on and look for opportunities to make some changes in the community with a leader with a different vision and different ideas.鈥�
Butler said most of his proposals deal with functionality.
鈥淚 feel council and the organization need to work together in a better way for better outcomes,鈥� he said, adding that he wanted to improve the reputation of both council and the municipality.
He noted that the municipality has improved over the past year since Bill Given was hired as the new chief administrative officer (CAO), but it still had to do better.
Elected for the first time onto council in 2017, Butler has learned over his term how the relationship between council and administration works, mainly that council is responsible for policy and budget, while administration is focused on implementation.
鈥淎nother key area, I think, is that council needs to do a much better job of listening to residents,鈥� Butler said.
鈥淩esidents expect to be heard and they want to understand what their role is, and I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 been clear and we can make it clearer.鈥�
Reiterating how the town has done well over the past 20 years, Butler emphasized the need to consider the next 20 years, especially when it comes to issues such as infrastructure and the housing shortage.
鈥淲e really need to look forward in Jasper,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he next four years are pivotal as we set ourselves up for success over the next coming couple of decades.鈥�
Butler added that choice was critical not just for the mayoral election but with the election of new councillors as well.
鈥淲ith only a few days left before the filing deadline, I want to encourage anyone considering letting their name stand to go ahead, be brave and do so,鈥� he said.
鈥淚f you鈥檇 like to know more about the commitments involved, please don鈥檛 hesitate to contact me.鈥�
Election information
This election, Jasperties will vote for one mayor and six councillors.
Mayor Richard Ireland has confirmed he will run for re-election this fall.
As of Monday afternoon, five candidates have filed their nomination papers for the position of councillor: Rico Damota, Helen Kelleher-Empey, Wendy Hall, Elizabeth (Beth) McLachlan and Ralph Melnyk.
The final day for nominations is Sept. 20.
That day, nominations can be submitted to the returning officer or deputy returning officer at the boardroom in the Jasper Activity Centre between 9 a.m. and noon.
They can also be submitted during regular business hours any day before or by regular mail.
The election is scheduled for Oct. 18.
More information can be found at
