Mayor Linnsie Clark is sworn in Monday in front of a limited crowd gathered in council chambers at city hall.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Mayor Linnsie Clark says her new council – the most diverse in history, as well as one of the youngest and least experienced – has a strong mandate and is united “in our desire to have a healthy community, requiring healthy people, a healthy society, a healthy economy and a healthy environment.”
The 41-year-old lawyer became the 23rd person to be mayor of the City of Medicine Hat in a swearing-in ceremony at city hall on Monday, and the first woman to hold the post.
Five of the eight council members are also women, and only one-quarter have previous council experience following a sea-change election last month.
Clark addressed council and the public in an initial address following an organizational meeting.
She said council faces “an immense and important task” after “tremendous engagement” from the public during the election.
“We heard that people wanted change,” she said. “As a city government we need to improve the culture within the city and recognize the value of maintaining and building on what we have.
“I’m grateful to have received a very strong mandate from this community, and we will continue to require (the community’s) support … Don’t let that passion die just because the election is over.”
Clark, a lawyer with the city’s legal department, took a leave of absence to mount her first political campaign, and won the Oct. 18 election with about two-thirds of the vote.
Shila Sharps, a downtown business woman and longtime city hall observer, said election and new makeup of council provides “a huge opportunity.”
“For me, for the first time there are just so many voices, and the real challenge will be to get voices in unison on a lot of different subjects,” she said. “I’m super excited.”
Ramona Robins placed first in council voting after the former Crown prosecutor’s late entry into the race.
“The campaign is one thing, but work of the council is much longer.” she said. “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon, and I feel ready to get started.”
Robert Dumanowski, elected to his seventh term last month, is now the most experienced member.
“There’s just as much excitement in the past,” said Dumanowski on Monday. “There’s a dynamic group of people who were given the support of the community to represent they for the next four years.”
Darren Hirsch, now in his third term, and said all council members are elected on their campaign platforms and principles. He plans to continue advocating for financial responsibility.
“What got us all voted in was our ability to have certain principles,” he said. “I’m excited about the diversity (in the group). I think you’ll very much see a great debate … and great contributions from every councillor.”
Alison Van Dyke, a community activist and spokesperson for food security, the Friends of Medicare and other social issues, says she will evaluate her other activities.
“I’ve worked in advocacy and never thought I’d run for office,” she said Monday. “It’s quite a change. I’m used to holding politicians’ feet to the fire, and now I’m the politician. But, anyone who knows me knows that I hold myself to a very high standard.”
First-time councillor Cassi Hider says there was a good level of enthusiasm among the group and to get down to work.
“There will be some tough decisions to be made, but I’m confident we can do it together,” she said.
Allison Knodel, a 30-year-old teacher and one of the top vote-getters in the election, says council will now dig in to an orientation process.
“New and returning councillors have heard that message from the public about better communication,” she said.
Andy McGrogan, the retired police chief who was elected last month to council, says he had attended many swearing in ceremonies as a dignitary.
“It’s such an exciting change and I’m looking forward to serving in a different way,” he told the News.
The ceremony was in council chambers with limited public attendance due to capacity rules brought in last month to control rising coronavirus cases in the province. Medicine Hat city hall doesn’t employ the restriction-exemption program, meaning only about 20 members of the public were allowed in chamber, on top of two guests per council member.
Other notables attending were Medicine Hat College president Kevin Shufflebotham and chair Sarah Mackenzie, Medicine Hat police chief Mike Warden, fire chief Brian Staunch, and Frank Devine, president of the Medicine Hat Real Estate Board. Marco Jansen, an unsuccessful candidate in the election, also attended.
