Change rules the day in city, county

By Medicine Hat News Opinon on October 18, 2017.

Monday’s civic elections communicated a strong desire for change at both the city and county levels. Change does not necessarily mean all new faces, especially in Medicine Hat’s case. Change, in this instance, meant a change in direction rather than a complete overhaul. With the exception of Kris Samraj, who is imminently likable and did well in the popular vote, Hatters opted for a more experienced, business-minded council as a whole.

With the return of Phil Turnbull and Darren Hirsch, who will likely act as a counterweights to Mayor Ted Clugston on council, and the retention of councillors like Jim Turner, Robert Dumanowski and Jamie McIntosh the newly reconfigured council will likely be a “get down to brass tacks” council dominated by a lot of strong personalities. Expect a lot of behind-the-scenes dust-ups going on the public will not have sight of as these personalities punch it out for control of the city’s agenda.

In Cypress County the desire for change in the electorate took on a different form with several older councillors being displaced by a younger generation. LeRay Pahl is the most notable in this respect. The 30-year council giant was displaced as the strongest bull in Cypress County Ward 8 pasture by newcomer Shane Hok. Hok in many respects was already considered the heir apparent to Pahl, and has been personally endorsed by Pahl after his defeat. Generational change seems to be the motive of local voters, and should not be read as a rejection of Pahl’s fiscally conservative, agriculture-first agenda on council.

Solid Rock Fencing owner Robin Kurpjuweit’s narrow defeat of longtime councillor Garry Lentz in Ward 4 Longfellow, on the other hand, was much more of a signal local residents were looking for new blood and a more modern voice in their local politics. Kurpjuweit ran a much more sophisticated campaign than Cypress County has seen in the past, utilizing social media tools and political branding tactics.

In Cypress County’s Hilda/Schuler Ward 1 many of those same tactics were utilized by newly elected councillor Michelle McKenzie to defeat first term councillor Art Squire and fellow challenger Shirley Roy, but she combined this with door-knocking and her family’s deep-rooted connections to the area to good effect to create a blended modern/traditional campaign which ultimately led her to victory.

McKenzie’s win was also historic, as she is the first female ever elected to serve as councillor in Cypress County. McKenzie used this fact to good effect in her campaign. She represents the new generation of women emerging in farm and ranch country in Cypress County: Strong women who run their own businesses while at the same time raising families while staying deeply involved in their communities. There are, demographically speaking, more women than men living in Cypress County at present, and it was only a matter of time before one female candidate came forward with the organization and roots to carry a ward seat in the election. McKenzie was that candidate.

Time will tell if the rookies Kurpjuweit, McKenzie and Hok will grow to achieve the status and weight of those they defeated, especially in the case of Hok and Kurpjuweit. One thing is sure, Garry Lentz and LeRay Pahl have both left a legacy in Cypress County politics which will be difficult to match.