A businessman, who has had several years’ experience in municipal politics, is vying for the position of Rimbey councillor in the upcoming byelection.
Wayne Clark, 51, has agreed to let his name stand for the position.
“I hear the frustration that is developing in Rimbey over several different issues and I believe that I can bring an experienced knowledgeable point of view to the council table,” he said.
Clark, who is manager of Wilson’s Funeral Chapel, has always been interested in politics at all levels.
“Being born in Ottawa, it could be something they put in our water,” he joked.
Clark successfully ran for council in 2004, attaining the second highest number of votes.
He was acclaimed in 2007.
Clark believes a community is only as strong as its volunteers and in the past has applied his strong work ethic and community spirit to help Rimbey remain a strong and vibrant community.
He was treasurer of the Rimbey United Church for five years and finance chairman for the Rimbey new arena society prior to and during its construction.
“With my out-of-the-box thinking and leadership we were able to open the new arena within a year without owing a penny of the $1.6-million price tag,” he said. “I was one of the founding members of the Blindman Valley Youth Centre, a board that I continue to sit on.”
Clark also sits on the Rimbey Neighborhood Place board and the municipal development plan board.
The community-minded candidate has also logged more than 10,000 hours of volunteer service as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Auxiliary Constable before retiring in 2011.
Clark, the son of a Korean War vet, completed his schooling in Airdrie and spent several years working for the municipality before accepting the position of parks and cemeteries superintendent for the Municipal District of Rockyview. He later apprenticed at a funeral home in Trochu. After graduating from the Alberta School of Mortuary Science in 1993 accepted a position with Wilson’s Funeral Chapel in Lacombe. He relocated to Rimbey in 1995.
Clark is proud of his employment history, noting he has worked steadily since the age of 13.
“I love to work. I have worked full-time without ever collecting unemployment insurance for 38 years.”
He is proud to call Rimbey his home.
“Rimbey has seen much growth and progress in the past six years. There are a lot of issues on the minds of our electorate and I believe I am the most qualified candidate for the job.”
Clark is married to Betty, and the couple has a 13-year-old son, Grady. The family enjoys camping, boating, golfing and traveling.