A theme of change as new faces dominate council vote

By JAMES TUBB and KENDALL KING on October 18, 2021.

It will be a new-look council for Medicine Hat following an election night full of change.
Only two incumbents remain and there will be five women on Medicine Hat’s council, including Ramona Robbins (8,113) who finished with the highest number of votes out of 33 candidates.
She says her first priority once council starts working together is for them to get to know one another and see how they will all work for the people of Medicine Hat.
“Most of them, I’ve met maybe once or twice before and only during the campaign,” Robbins said. “So I think it would be very exciting to sit down and have an honest conversation about what are our strengths; what are our weaknesses. Leave our egos at the door. Just to get to know who these people are and what we’re going to bring to the table. It’s very exciting.”
Andy McGrogan (8,095), who had the second highest total, says he believes he won his seat because of his reputation within the city as the former police chief, and says he is excited to work alongside the city’s new council.
“I think it’s super exciting. I knew there was going to be a lot of change. I’m very excited about it. Change sometimes brings such an awesome perspective. It’s a very diverse group and I love that … I’m ready to go.”
Allison Knodel (8,083) says her first priority is to ensure the voice of the public is heard. She says she thinks she won her seat because she was authentic in her campaigning.
“I think I was just myself,” Knodel said. “I was really honest and authentic. I went into this with the perspective that I wanted to do it for the right reasons and my care for people, it shone through.”
One of the two incumbents on council, Robert Dumanowski (7,737), is sorry to see some of his fellow councillors no longer at the table but believes in the people’s decision.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say I’m sorry to see some of my colleagues not return but I firmly believe … the public gets it right,” Dumanowski said. “An election is a report card on the state of affairs. For me, I’m excited by the name and faces I see coming to the table and even though I’m experienced I’m going to come in there as a team player and work positive for the community. Ultimately, we’ve been put in a very privileged position to do that on behalf of the community so we will live up to that.”
Alison Van Dyke (7,225), says the big changes to council will require them to work together to determine the city’s most pressing need. She believes she won her seat because of all the community work she’s done before the election.
“I actually think it’s because of the years of community work I’ve been doing in advance of this,” Van Dyke said. “I think people in Medicine Hat recognize that I am willing to work hard for the community already and that I would continue to do that on council.”
Cassi Hider (6,747), says she thinks she got her seat because she showed who she was throughout the election.
“I think it had a lot to do with me just being who I am and jut showing my authenticity and just sharing with the citizens of Medicine Hat my love and devotion to this city and community and what I’d like to do moving forward,” Hider said. “I just feel that I have always carried myself to be an honest and trustworthy person and what you see is what you get and I think that helped in hopefully getting the seat on council
Shila Sharps (5,901), says her first priority is to work alongside Medicine Hat’s new mayor, Linnsie Clark, and is excited about the diversity of her fellow councillors.
“I think it’s super exciting the way I saw it,” Sharps said. “We have five women coming into council. I think that what we’re hearing is Medicine Hat speaking. They also kept some of the incumbents and they are telling us, they want some experience. We listened and we have to listen to what they are saying to us, like it or lump it.”
The second incumbent on council, Darren Hirsch (5,283), says he is honoured the voters put their faith in him and says it’s his balanced skill set that got him re-selected.
“I have spent time on the social service side, a little bit on the business side,” Hirsch said. “I just think when I look at the list of people the made it, what I think is balance. Individuals that care about the community but certainly recognize that we’ve got some financial stuff we need to go through. We have a very diverse group. The female vote is certainly resonating through. We have some great candidates that have stepped forward and I am happy to work with each and every one of them.”

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