TREENA MIELKE/Rimbey Review
A Rimbey town councillor with a fire in his belly to protect the property, economic and democratic rights of Albertans, has agreed to let his name stand as a nominee for the Wildrose Alliance Party candidacy in the Rocky Mountain House-Sundre constituency.
Joe Anglin said he got his nomination papers in just under the wire; only an hour to spare before the June 10 deadline closed.
“I had been fishing in the Yukon,” he said. “I was asked to run by the party leader and I decided to do it. The Wildrose shows a commitment to the values I have been advocating for some time. Danielle has assured me that the party will give me a free vote to represent the constituency. That is the party’s policy.”
Anglin gained wide public attention in Alberta after he exposed the Energy and Utilities Board for spying on people who opposed power lines being put through their land.’
The outspoken activist was leader of the Green Party from the fall of 2008 until the party dissolved in 2009.
Making a difference and standing up for the hard working people of Alberta is what motivates Anglin to remain in the political scene.
“I don’t just speak out, I challenge issues and offer solutions,” he said. “I have influenced amendments to legislature such as the Alberta Utilities Commissions Act, the Land Assembly Project Area Act and the Land Stewardship Act.
“My goal is to continue to force more (changes).”
Anglin believes looking after the individual is more important than worrying about helping corporations and big businesses succeed.
“It’s almost like the same principle of if you mind the pennies the dollars will take care of themselves,” he said. “I want to mind the average working guy, the average young family, make sure they are treated fairly. I want to put common sense back to work.”
As well as being a town councilor, Anglin is chairperson of Rimoka Housing Foundation, the management board for seniors’ housing in Rimbey, Ponoka and Ponoka County.
Anglin has a diverse and interesting background.
He served in the United States Marine Corps and worked as a police officer in the 1970s. He moved to Canada and obtained Canadian citizenship in 1995 and served in the Canadian Coast Guard for six years.
He is married to Rev. Debra Laing and the couple has two children, 16-year-old Thomas and 13-year-old Aylish.
A forum for Wildrose party candidates Anglin, Sheila Mizera from Rocky Mountain House and Ed Wicks from Sundre will be held at Hoadley Hall Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.