Mayor Ted Clugston points toward the South Saskatchewan River from the vestibule outside city Hall in this April 2020 file photo. Clugston will seek a third term this fall.--News file photo
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Ted Clugston will seek a third term as mayor, he announced at the conclusion of the annual State of the City address on Tuesday.
“The choice to run again or not has weighed heavily on my mind,” he said during a pre-recorded message broadcast online in place of the traditional luncheon that was cancelled due to health protocol.
He cited the stress of governing during a pandemic, and outlined the criticism he has faced, but said public life has allowed him to see “angels” at work in public service.
“We’ve accomplished many, many wonderful things, and there are still many to be done. I’ve decided that I would like to see it through, given the opportunity.”
Clugston becomes the second person to enter the mayoral race in the Oct. 18 election, along with fiscal critic Alan Rose who announced last week.
Clugston said earlier during the address that the pandemic has challenged the city to maintain general operations, but it had also evolved and still pushed ahead with major budget changes, a major aid package to business owners coupled with general tax abatement.
Clugston said 2020 had provided challenges he had never expected.
“If you look around Alberta, I think you’ll find the stress of leadership has taken a toll on all mayors, city councils, the premier, everyone who’s involved in politics, and I’m not forgetting doctors and nurses, frontline workers,” he said.
“Across Alberta three mayors have said they wouldn’t run again … and I think there will be more.”
Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman and Edmonton’s Don Iveson have both announced they won’t seek re-election. Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given resigned to take a position as the top administrator in Jasper.
The presentation was similar to his announcement ahead of the 2017 election. At that State of the City address, he referenced the “courage” of then St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse to leave politics at a time of his choosing, then Clugston announced he would seek another term.
He also prefaced his decision by restating his well-known position that he has faced some unduly harsh criticism on online social media channels.
“I’ve learned empathy for the haters, because they have to live in that hate every day of their lives,” he said, citing local leaders of social service agencies as examples and the “angels” who work to improve the lives of Hatters.
Clugston became the focus of criticism that he was slow to act on implementing a mask bylaw early in the summer alongside other municipalities, though local cases remained low. Then again in the fall when local cases spiked, he was one of three council members who voted against the mask bylaw passed at a special meeting called by Clugston following pressure from other councillors and the public.
The only other candidate to publicly declare intentions is Rose, head of the Canadian Taxpayer Federation-aligned Medicine Hat Ratepayers Society.
Under new election rules in Alberta, candidates must register their nomination with returning officers – as soon as Jan. 1 – before they can accept donations or spend campaign funds.
Clugston won a majority of votes in the 2017 municipal election, beating out four challengers, including former long-time alderman John Hamill, teacher Scott Raible and web-personality Thomas Fougere.
He was first elected mayor in 2013 following one term as alderman in a five-person race that included incumbent Norm Boucher, current councillor Phil Turnbull and former Chamber of Commerce chair Milvia Bauman.
