Question 1: Why are YOU running for Council?

There are lots of reasons why I’m running, but at the core of it all is simply a desire to make a difference in this community that has been my home for the past 23 years. I genuinely feel this sense of responsibility to give back and to help shape and build a better community.

As I think about it, the fact that I’m the 1st generation daughter of two immigrant parents from a former communist country, I think fundamentally informs this sense of responsibility – because I’ve grown up with strong feelings about the concepts of community engagement and civic responsibility.
I believe that the freedoms, rights, blessings and privileges we enjoy in this country were secured at a high price, and can only be maintained at the cost of an informed and engaged citizenry. “Where much is given, much is expected” – I think this is a true adage.

Also, I’m running because I believe I have experience, passion, some acquired educational, life, and work skills, and a common sense family perspective to bring to the Council table – so I’m confident that I would be a strong, trusted advocate to advance and safeguard the best interests of our community. My good husband and I have raised our five children in this wonderful community for over 23 years – and it’s been such a great place to call home. I truly love this community.

Question 2: Of three of your opponents, who would you like to see successful in this race with you and why?

Tanya Handley: because she’s similar to me in philosophical outlook and objectives, and has worked hard to bring the perspectives of ordinary working people and families to the Council table, which is a strong objective of mine. She’s a fiscal conservative like myself; a wife & mother with a strong family perspective, like me; and I know her to be reliable, hard-working (she reads all Agenda material and is well prepared), and genuinely in it for the right reason: to represent the people, not for a power trip.

Lawrence Lee: I don’t know Lawrence as well as I do Tanya, but I’ve followed his record, watched his videos, spoken with him personally a few times, and trust the track record he’s established in our community, both on Council and as a School Board Trustee prior to that. He seems genuinely to be in this for the best reason (to serve), and works hard at all he does. I won’t be voting for a full 8 candidates, but he and Tanya are two that I will vote for, because I do want them both to return to Council.

Ken Johnston: I know less about Ken than even Tanya or Lawrence, but the few times I’ve met Ken, he’s been so warm and interested in the people around him. I’ve followed the work of all councillors over the past four years, and he’s one that’s impressed because he seems to work hard, read all his material, and understand various angles of each issue.

Question 3: What is the single most important issue to you?

There’s no doubt that the #1 issue of concern among Red Deerians today is Community Safety and Security – and for that reason, it’s the single most important issue for me as well. It’s top of mind for everyone I talk to across the board, and it is so in large measure, because we’ve all witnessed the rise in local property crime in particular over the past few years, and that sense of being personally violated is alarming.

Here are a couple links to articles respecting the increase in Crime Severity Index in Alberta compared to the rest of Canada (we’re the highest % increase at 18% over last year).
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ypnexthome/crime-rates-canadian-cities_b_11185172.html
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160720/dq160720a-eng.htm

In fact, Red Deer has the second highest Crime Severity Index in the country, so there’s no question that people in our community are looking for leadership and direction on this particular issue, as paramount in the in the collective mindset of the electorate.

To answer this, as I say to everyone who asks about this issue: there’s no one magic bullet to tackling crime. There just isn’t. Because what is needed is a multi-pronged approach to this broad issue that intersects all levels of government. Although the problem is in our back yard, we at the municipal level don’t have all the resources or even jurisdiction at times to address every angle of the issue – because it’s a complex, multi-faceted problem.

I’ll give you an example …
The uptick in property crime we’ve witnessed over the past few years has been, not entirely, but largely fueled by the rising opiate addiction crisis in our community. So again, while the problem exists on our streets, we absolutely MUST look to, rely on, vigorously lobby, and cooperatively work with both the province and the feds to address this addiction crisis.

And that’s where local leadership matters: it’s in knowing what to lobby for, what priorities to establish, what hills to die on, and how to maintain civility through this sometimes challenging process of tackling crime and other social issues.

MY VISION: is that we need intentional leadership to direct K-Division and local resources to identified and targeted needs:
? More officers on the streets, YES, but also more police VISIBILITY, and more police INTERFACE with ordinary citizens & community groups to engage and inform the public.
? Citizens are looking for and would benefit by greater police presence not just after a crime has happened (after being dispatched), but on regular, routine neighbourhood patrols to maintain a stronger presence BEFORE something happens. And when something does happen, citizens need to have the confidence that police will attend and do something about it. This confidence has been waning, as I listen to people’s stories.
? Police should be involved in educating the public how we can become part of the solution (ie: reporting ALL crime no matter how insignificant or random, Neighbourhood Watch, COPS, or by holding regular meetings with neighbours to be each other’s eyes and ears on the streets, etc) I believe the City should utilize the new NOTIFY RED DEER tool to interface with citizens respecting ordinary things like meetings in a neighbourhood with a police officer to a potentially dangerous situation to be warned of.
? Transfer some of the bureaucratic and paperwork burden from trained officers to increased clerical staff (at significantly less expense), to free officers up to maintain a greater police presence on our streets.
? Explore and embrace innovative crime-fighting strategies like A.L.E.R.T., Project Pinpoint, or the highly effective COMPSTAT – so that we work smarter, in addition to working harder.

I think the City’s made some improvements in this regard since I last serve on Council thirteen years ago. The introduction of an Annual Policing Plan, for example, has been excellent to direct resources to targeted needs – and you’ll notice in the current Annual Policing Plan, that reducing property crime is the number one Priority, with several identified objectives and measures to address that.

Another priority identified in the Policing Plan is “Community Relations,” and in this regard, I believe there’s much more the City can, and ought, to be doing in terms of reaching out to our citizens, and working with community groups and individuals to involve the community as part of the solution (as noted above).

Perhaps one of the biggest pieces to this puzzle, however, particularly in terms of property crime, is addressing the social blight of addiction. Which is why we desperately need an ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE in our community. The Province’s plan for a Safe Injection Site in Red Deer while perhaps wanting to address short term safety issues, merely hacks at the leaves of the crisis, without tackling the root of the problem: addiction.
And it continues in a vicious cycle of addiction and crime, until we can bring all the players to the table (the province, the feds, and City Council) to work together cooperatively on the ROOT of the problem. We need an Addiction Treatment Center, and we need people on council who can work to make that happen.

Question 4: What is the best thing that you have seen happen in Red Deer in the last 4 years?

Hmmm, this one’s hard to answer, because a lot of good things have happened over the past four years:
? Securing the Winter Games bid
? Improvements to interchange at Taylor Drive and Ross Street (so much better than it was!!!)
? Clearing snow on many walking trails in the Waskasoo Park (which I like to walk)
? Improvements to snow/ice removal throughout the city generally (though not perfect, it’s a far cry better now than it was 5 years ago).
? Introduction of an Annual Police Plan to identify and measure crime and policing objectives in the city.

Question 5: What is the worst thing you have seen happen in Red Deer in the last 4 years?

For sure the rise in crime fueled by the opiate addiction crisis. Fentynal in particular has been a blight to our community.

Question 6: Crime is a big topic lately. People are talking about needing more policing. Do you feel the same? If you do, how do you think this can be done financially? Some things are worth spending money on – of course – so if you feel the same, where would you cut funding? Or would you?

I went into some detail on my position respecting crime and policing in question 3, so I trust it was answered there … but to reiterate, yes, I do believe we need more resources spent on policing. However, as noted in Question 3, not ONLY more officers on the street; rather a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach that will enable the City to work smarter, not just harder.

My position is to do all we can to find efficiencies and savings in current City operations that might offset a potential increase to policing, rather than to raise taxes for these pressing needs. Such efficiencies may possibly be found in the following areas:
? Communication and Marketing
? Consulting Fees (why do we ever spend $400K on a single study for example? It’s a huge pet peeve of mine!)
? Scope or nature of the proposed Aquatics Centre: perhaps reduce the scope and cost of the current proposal; or establish a local committee (including members of Council, the community, and established aquatics lobby group members) to solicit private funding or corporate sponsorship for a portion (let’s say half) of the proposed $100 million price tag; or simply defer the whole project down the road 5-10 years and save some money for it (rather than financing entirely through debenture), together with corporate sponsorship.

I am a fiscal conservative who believes in balanced restraint and a cautious approach to spending our hard earned tax dollars. My term on Council reflects a legacy of fighting hard to keep taxes low, so that’s absolutely my philosophical mantra.

However, I have to answer honestly that Crime and Community Safety is too significant an issue at the moment for any potential Councillor to commit to a zero tax increase for example. We need a broad and thorough examination of all financial variables involved in the budgetary process to see where we can cut back in order to finance the highest priority issue facing our community at the moment.

Question 7: Due to the fact that every year I come close to having a heart attack shoveling snow from the street in front of my house, snow removal is a hot topic for me. How do you feel about the current program? How would you improve it? Again, how would you propose funding for changes? (Side note, personally, I would rather take the risk of heart attack every other year, instead of once a year.)

Firstly, I would say that I believe the City has made significant improvements in this area over the past term (4 years). Here’s a link to the current snow removal policy, as found on the City’s website:
http://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/roads/snow-and-ice-program/

I trust you’re already quite familiar with the current policy. In my conversations with the public, most people don’t even bring up the subject anymore, because everyone is so focused on addressing crime. A couple of people did bring it up at Farmer’s Market last week, but mostly, the pressing issue is crime.

To answer your question, what I would want to do before proposing any change to the current policy is hear from the community by way of invitation to submit comments online. This could be quickly done by sending out the request on Notify Red Deer … by the way, are you registered for this wonderful communication tool? If not, sign up by clicking this link:

http://www.reddeer.ca/whats-happening/notify-red-deer/

Also, by advertising in the paper, online, or with a quick, postcard like mailer that could go out in with the next city bill. I would like to hear from residents about what they need and want in respect of this program, cause on my street up in Kentwood, the current policy is more than sufficient.
I would welcome your thoughts and insights on this topic, to better understand the need. Thank you.