An information session for potential candidates who are considering letting their name stand in the fall municipal election is being planned for next month.
The town of Rimbey will host the meeting Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. to give new and incumbent councilors a heads up regarding council’s role in municipal politics and to answer questions potential candidates may have.
Donna Tona, senior corporate consultant and vice president operations of Transitional Solutions Inc. will be the speaker at the session titled, ‘I Care About My Community,’ at the Rimbey Community Centre.
Tona is looking forward to leading the session as well as visiting her hometown.
“It will be great to come back to Rimbey,” she said. “The town has so much potential. It has a huge trading area, it is becoming more well known and it is in a good location.
Although Tona views Rimbey as a municipality with the potential for growth, she notes there has been some stagnation over the years.
“I see Rimbey at the tipping point of expansion.”
Tona sees growth as a positive for the community and encourages the public to be open to it as more growth fosters positive change and progress.
“No one should be afraid of growth,’ she said.
During the info session Tona will discuss the role of the municipal government.
“They (councillors) need to remember they can’t go in there with the attitude, ‘I’m going to change the world,’ but need to remember they are a team and they have to go by the rules set out in the municipal government act.”
She said councillors have to abide by rules and procedures and she believes the word ‘transparent’ is overused.
“It’s an empty word. It means nothing.”
Councilors need to explain to the constituents they will be as honest as possible and divulge as much information as legally possible, but land, legal and personnel issues need to be discussed in-camera (behind closed doors).
Constituents may not always understand council’s actions and councilors need to be willing to explain their position as best they can.
“They must not be afraid of confrontation,” she said.
Expanding council’s term to four years is a good thing, she added.
“The first year they come in is a learning curve, the second year they begin to understand the rhythm of the municipality and the third year (election year) is referred to as a silly year. I’m very supportive of a four-year term.”
Tona has an impressive track record of municipal involvement.
She has more than 10 years of municipal management experience with the Calgary Police Service and has spent 21 years consulting for municipalities and the government.
Her experience includes emergency trauma management, municipal consulting, bylaw and peace officer enforcement, auditing, interim management, professional speaking, training, and motivational programs.
To date, only Mayor Sheldon Ibbotson has publicly thrown his hat into the political ring for a second term.
Councilors Gayle Rondeel, Jack Webb and Scott Ellis say they are not prepared to make an announcement as to their plans regarding running in the municipal election and Coun. Paul Payson has not returned phone calls from the Review.
Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. until noon is nomination day. During that time, candidates are required to drop off nomination papers at the town office.
Candidates have up to 24 hours to withdraw their papers if they decide not to run.
Nomination papers are available at the town office and on line.