What's a Platform

It's quite clear that I'm not a politician, and whether I become one is in your hands. Throughout my life, I've been reminded, "Be careful what you wish for, you might just achieve it."

Where do you stand?

One aspect of municipal politics that puzzles me is the necessity for a platform. I always thought a city councillor's role was to represent the citizens of their town or district, rather than pushing their own agenda. They should listen to the people and strive to provide what the community collectively needs. It's a challenging task, but similar to my experience in radio. In radio, a station succeeds by satisfying the largest audience, which translates to revenue since advertisers want as many people as possible to hear their ads. I understand that voters want to know an individual's stance to find someone who aligns with their views. So, let me share a bit about my beliefs.

I envision a community as a home, a place to raise my family, find friends, and enjoy a fulfilling career. Eventually, I want to grow old and cherish time with my grandkids and warm summer days. I desire for my children to have the best opportunities to learn and grow, pursue higher education, and settle in the city where they grew up to raise their own families.

While not everything happened for me, most of it did. I still love it here after 35 years and look forward to aging here. My children thrived but eventually left for university. Their career paths led them to further education in Edmonton, where they now reside with their families. Grandma and Grandad often travel north to visit them. People ask when we plan to move, but I can't give up these warm days or the life we've built here.

I often wonder what it would take to expand opportunities for higher education in Medicine Hat and whether that would have kept my children closer to home. Perhaps not, but I would like to explore ways to keep our children here a little longer.

First blog, I'll expand to this thought in the days to come.