Cassi Hider, a candidate for city council position in this October's election, poses for a photo on the steps of city hall.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The head of the city’s new Ronald McDonald House says she has the experience and drive to tackle the economic and social challenges facing Medicine Hat.
Cassi Hider is the latest Hatter to file paperwork seeking a council seat in the next municipal election this fall.
She joins more than a dozen candidates that are registered in an new, extended campaign period put in place ahead of the Oct. 18 vote.
She tells the News this month she feels the time is right for her to “give back” to the city, and help co-ordinate action by council, business and community groups.
“I’d love to dive right in and work with businesses and people and the city to get things moving,” she said. “I want to give back to the city which I’ve been fortunate to be part of – Medicine Hat has been very good to me.”
Hider recently moved from a fundraising role with Ronald McDonald House initiatives to general manager of the facility that houses the families of ill children while treatment is underway. That local entity moved from initial planning just two years ago to full operations.
Hider feels the connection building skills that brought that project from initial fundraising to operation over two years would be an asset on council.
“I’m focusing on fiscal responsibility. We do need to support vulnerable people of the community,” she said. “And I’d like to be a voice and and ear for the residents of Medicine Hat. I don’t want to say taxpayers, because we’re all residents.
“MH is a strong community as it is, but it would be great to generate some new business and new careers.”
In current issues, she supports the city’s current Waterfront Development as a way to boost economic activity.
“We can’t blow our budget supporting things for the future that we don’t have the means for today,” she said. “Right now, I know we’re struggling. What do we do to balance that? I’d like to work with people to make that change, financially for our city.”
She is also interested in a recent move by city council to help broker a multi-partner deal toward establishing a permanent shelter facility. That should be focused on helping at-risk and homeless populations transition toward more stable lifestyles and situations.
“We do have the resources here and brilliant people, and the city could have a hand in that,” she said.
Hider, 50, has lived in Medicine Hat all her life. She and her partner have one adult daughter who is attending post-secondary school in another city.
She previously volunteered as a director with the 2016 Alberta Winter Games and in various roles with the Medicine Hat Stampede.
Crowded field
The fall election is shaping up to have a lengthy ballot for Hatters to choose from as they decide local government representatives.
Changes this year to rules governing elections extend the nomination period from Jan. 1 ahead of the October general election.
Of 14 council candidates that have submitted paper work – allowing them to fundraise and spend money campaigning – only one, Jim Turner, is an incumbent.
That makes it likely voters will have more than 20 candidates to choose from as more join the race closer to election day.
Other candidates include former Peoples Party of Canada organizer Brian Dueck, former deputy fire chief Brian Webster, Chuck Turner (a candidate in the 2017 election), retail manager Justin Wright, transit advocate Kelly Gayle Allard, police commission member Mandi Lee Campbell, former local UCP party official Marco Jansen, hotelier Praveen Joshi, business owner Rockford Rutledge, Stephen Campbell (the spokesperson of the “We Choose Freedom” group that opposed the municipal mask bylaw) and Warren Pister, a former RCMP officer.
In the mayoral race, ratepayers association head Alan Rose is the only candidate to file paper work, but current mayor Ted Clugston announced in January he will seek a third term.
Similarly, Coun. Phil Turnbull announced in early January he’ll seek re-election, but is not yet on a list provided by the returning officer.
