Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Good morning for me, where he would Buffalo and the rest of the world. You've tuned into the Mac CD morning show. I'm your host, Elliot Pierre. And we're going to start the show off the same way we start every show off with a moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you're spending with us truly does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, Tanner hidden with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:20 Oh, she caught me loves you're listening to the next city morning show.
Speaker 0 00:00:24 <inaudible> all right. We're back. That is going to be a fun episode. It's Monday it's election day. So, uh, we have another candidate on right now who is running for mayor, as you know, I don't introduce my guests. I let them do that themselves. So on that note, sir, can you please re-introduce yourself to the people at home and tell them who you are and what you're about
Speaker 2 00:00:45 You bet. Thank you, Elliot it's and it's great to be back. Um, I've actually become a bit of an addict to your show since then you have a lot of interesting guests and, uh, I've learned quite a few things since then. Um, so thank you for what you do for the community on that. Um, I'm Mike Allen and I'm, uh, uh, seeking everybody's support to become the next mayor for the regional municipality wood Buffalo. Um, I have been here for 28 years and I'm a S was a small business person. Uh, but I've been involved in public service for many years since about, uh, well going back to about 2001, but I became the president of the chamber of commerce in 2004, uh, did two terms and, and, uh, my council and, uh, and then provincial, uh, history started in 2007. So, uh, really the focus of this campaign has been in, uh, how, how are we going to create the community's vision? It's not my vision, it's the communities. So I spent the last six months, um, since I announced, uh, speaking with, uh, residents and community leaders and other stakeholders are many of our key stakeholders and members of the provincial government to, uh, uh, to develop what my platform is today. And my platform is, uh, really, it could be a foundation for, uh, of course, along with all of council's, uh, uh, priorities and vision. We can formulate a strong strategic plan to move forward and have a successful term for the future. Nice.
Speaker 0 00:02:07 So it's been, uh, a few months, like you've noted that you've been running now. So what have you seen in this last little bit of running that is different from the last few times that you've put your hat in the ring?
Speaker 2 00:02:21 Well, certainly, I mean, from, from a campaign perspective, uh, and, uh, and previously I did run two campaigns as a, uh, uh, in party politics or, uh, partisan for the provincial government. Um, there was always a, a lot more funds available to, uh, to get your message out, um, to, there was a lot more volunteers available, but of course, with the pandemic going on right now, um, volunteers are, um, difficult to get. And, uh, and those that are, uh, available are only available on a very limited basis. So, so, uh, but as well, the, at the doors it's been a little bit different. People are perhaps not as eager to answer the door and, uh, but the, the results and the feedback we've gotten at the doors has been very positive. So, yeah. Um, uh, as far as different, I think I'm used to doing a lot of, um, uh, campaigns in the past where we were dealing with a significant growth and shortages of infrastructure. We're not in that situation anymore.
Speaker 0 00:03:24 Communities changed dramatically
Speaker 2 00:03:25 With the downturn in the economy and then the pandemic and to natural disasters. Um, those struggles in the community, there's a lot of, uh, um, apprehension as to how we're going to move forward. Right. Um, but I have a lot of optimism for the future starting probably next year. The price of oil is, is going up, um, including WTS and, uh, <inaudible> but we're actually, um, we're starting to see a lot more enthusiasm. I think there's going to be more employment. Um, I've been speaking with industry reps and, and, uh, uh, they've done a great deal of work to get their costs and their expenditures under control. Um, now it's a matter of how we're going to manage that forward and hopefully have a property managed, uh, growth at a, at a, at a smaller level.
Speaker 0 00:04:13 Yeah. Yeah. That's interesting. I never would've thought about yeah. The, the volunteers and the funds to actually run being different, but you're right. Like, you don't have the same, like usually you'd have like an office and you have people working there and doing stuff this time. You're not able to like coordinate a staff like that at all are, you know,
Speaker 2 00:04:31 And at other levels of government, I mean, it used to be a, a little more, um, not as difficult to raise money and I mean, signs and brochures and, um, everything you do with your canvas scene, uh, those all cost them a lot of money advertising. So, um, whether you're going to be doing some radio advertising, you know, we can, we're permitted to self-fund up to a certain dollar. Um, but even that's limited. And now the, uh, I mean, you can't, uh, it used to be the person with the most money, you know, would buy elections. That's not the case anymore. Um, although there's, there is a third party advertiser rule that, um, uh, some candidates across the province are being able to take advantage of, but, uh, it's, uh, w we were focused just with, uh, residential. We have, have had some very supportive, uh, supportive residents in the community that, uh, been generous to, uh, to help support the campaign.
Speaker 2 00:05:30 Um, but, uh, no corporate donations and no corporate donations means, uh, I have many friends that are business owners and, and they were eager to write a check, but it came from their, from their business. And we'd have to give him a call and say, yeah, sorry, but we're prohibited from a corporate donation. The other thing that's interesting, but people aren't always aware is that a municipal funds that are raised are not tax deductible. Oh, I have no idea why not. It doesn't make sense federal and provincial are different and you can, uh, and, and you can do that. So people are usually a little bit freer if their business is doing well, um, or their personal situation is doing well. Uh, that little tax break gives them a little bit of help back at the end of the year. That's right. Certainly not the case with municipal. Interesting. But we've, we've been doing very well, I can say. Um, but it's certainly, uh, a campaign that's been run very fiscally responsible. I say
Speaker 0 00:06:29 Interesting. Now the one thing that fascinates me about this a whole process is the door-knocking component. Yes. Um, you guys do it, obviously, there's a reason for doing it. Um, how have you seen that door knocking process go with this, this term around? Has it been something you've enjoyed is it's been something that you have found interesting, like the door knocking, let's talk about that
Speaker 2 00:06:52 Door-knocking at any time is always interesting. Uh, often you're meeting new people. There's been a lot of new residents come into Fort McMurray and Buffalo. Um, uh, many have never heard of, uh, of myself or, uh, the other two candidates. Um, so just being able to give them some background and some, an understanding of, uh, uh, what our objectives are. Uh, there's, there's been a lot of interest from that perspective, but also, you know, I've been here a long time. So I always said, I ended up running into a lot of friends, um, and, uh, you know, quite often as, Hey, come on in for coffee, but yeah. Uh, so I don't have time for that right now because I got volunteers and we're all hitting the same neighborhood. Uh it's uh, um, you know, so you, you just try to, and I think any time of year, and I know, uh, provincially when I was in MLA, the, uh, the, the, uh, there were a lot of guys that I worked with and ourselves included, you could in the middle of the term, just go out door knocking and just get feedback from residents.
Speaker 2 00:07:51 Okay. Is that the end of the day? I've always said, I'm not here to represent the municipality to you. I'm here to represent you to the municipality. So it's important that we get that resident feedback. Yeah. Um, you get quite a wide array of views. Um, and quite often there's a quite often, there are people that are really happy with stuff. And often there's people that are very angry about a certain situation. It could be a singular issue. Um, in particular right now, I think, uh, I've been quite surprised at the number of people. I mean, daily, and it's not just myself, it's every candidate, the mayoral candidates, the CA council candidates. We're getting a lot of questions about, uh, uh, masking and mandatory vaccine passports and things like that. And, uh, I get the impression and, and some of them have actually told me that this is the reason they're going to vote for you, as, depending on your answer, this is who I'm going to vote for.
Speaker 2 00:08:50 So if I could send a message out there, please don't make that a decision making for, uh, for who you're going to vote for, for a municipal council. That's right. Or your mayor, because a, it's not a municipal mandate. Health is a provincial mandate. And as a municipality, all 357, municipalities are creatures of the provincial government. That's right. So we are required to follow whatever health orders are set down by the province. Um, I can state for the record though that, um, personally I have no intentions of bringing forward any additional measures as some municipalities have. And certainly it is within, uh, council's purview, uh, to, uh, to pass certain bylaws that they feel would be, um, effective for the community in, in helping to protect the safety of the residents. Um, I don't believe that I have the technical expertise or I'm, I'm not a medical expert. I don't believe I have the, uh, the mandate or the, the right to dictate to you as to how you should, uh, um, manage your, your health. And, uh, uh, but I would ask everybody that, you know, if you're feeling sniffles, you're feeling a little bit under the weather, stay home that's right. Uh, uh, be responsible and, and, uh, don't pass on whatever you have
Speaker 0 00:10:11 To others. Yeah. I think that's an important message in regards to like, what does fall under the category of municipal federal provincial? Um, there's a lot of miscommunication or misunderstanding of like, Hey, yeah, they're going to change this. Like, no, no, no, no, no. That's, that's the other, that's the other team, not, not us. So that's an important message for sure
Speaker 2 00:10:30 That with every election, um, the not understanding whose jurisdiction is what, and, uh, often I get, you know, they'll complain that the snow clearing on a highway 63, isn't very good, or, you know, we could get stuck or we can't, it's too icy. We can't get up super test hill. Um, well that is a provincial responsibility. And, and once you explain things it's quite often, but, you know, I'd be happy to, uh, contact my, my friends in the provincial government or the MLA and, uh, and they can pass on that message. That's right. Uh, so it's, uh, and, and often I get people saying, well, what part are you with? Yeah. You know, I did a couple of, uh, the trade show. And what, what party are you representing? Well, it's a non-partisan government level. That's right. And I know from political affiliations, we've had members that were, uh, everything from, uh, the far left to the far. Right. Um, but it's really, it's more about just listening to people and it doesn't matter what level of, uh, you know, I've had debates that I've been in and I've, uh, uh, participated in where I personally went into it thinking one way, come on, have a public hearing, um, or getting feedback from people. Yeah. It has changed my mind on how I voted. Right. So it's, uh, you have to, uh, really I'm, I'm not there to represent myself. I'm never represent, uh, the residents.
Speaker 0 00:11:49 There you go. Well, Mike, we're at the part of the show, uh, that you're kind of familiar with at this point, it's called the Maxine minute. Tanner has some questions for you. I don't know what he's going to ask, so I wish you nothing, but the best of luck, Tanner bringing up the max 80 minute,
Speaker 3 00:12:01 Uh, Alrighty. Question number one. What is one Fort McMurray politician you wish to emulate?
Speaker 2 00:12:08 You know, and I, uh, there, there are many, um, but I think, uh, uh, in recent years and someone who actually became a bit of a mentor of mine, um, my first term on council, we, uh, uh, I think there was a lot of apprehension from both of us about working together and, uh, based on previous relationships, but we became very close and I consider, uh, now a mentor. And that was, uh, our previous mayor, Melissa Blake. Um, she was, uh, our longest serving member and, uh, I learned a great deal from her about, uh, again about public participation and consultation and, uh, how we can, uh, deliver most effectively for the residents. So, uh, yeah, I would consider, um, uh, her as, as one of my mentors and, and, uh, I like to think that I've taken on some of her qualities. Here we go.
Speaker 3 00:12:59 Question number two, what is one thing that you're excited to see happen with the next council?
Speaker 2 00:13:06 Well, there's lots of things, you know, we all come up with priorities and we have, uh, uh, our plan. We still have to develop a strategic plan, but that's an overreaching document that everything that our administration is going to do when we, uh, essentially our, our, our next step after this strap plan is to develop a budget. And then we pass it over to the CAO. And here's your marching orders? How are you going to deliver on this? So everything has to match that, but everything changes on a weekly basis. And we have new items that come up on a very regular basis, uh, depending on what's happening, uh, um, that week, that month and what's happening in the economy. So I would, uh, I would say the one thing that I'm looking forward to the most is the revitalization of our downtown, our waterfront, and bringing back more character to the heart and soul of the community. Right? Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:13:57 Question number three. What is your favorite door knocks story? Okay.
Speaker 2 00:14:03 Ooh, you're going to make me think there. Thanks Tanner. I'm going to suggest that, um, um, I I've had many, some were good, some were not so good. I've had doors slammed in my face. Um, but, uh, really it's about talking with new residents or people who have just, uh, um, become a new Canadian citizen. So it's their first time able to vote. And I met one family from the Philippines and, uh, I think I was the first, uh, uh, person running for anything that had ever knocked on their door. And they said, well, you do that. And, uh, it was, uh, so we had quite a long conversation. Uh, they had a lot of questions about what to do and where to vote and then said, uh, can you give me a sign? And I'll have a sign from my neighbor. And also one from my, my cousin and one from my, my, my nephew. Um, those were, um, stories. And those are now lifelong friends as well because they moved here for opportunity. Uh, they moved here because he had other friends and other members of their family here. And, uh, and this is now their home, right? Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:15:13 Uh, question number four. What is one challenge you think of Fort McMurry mayor faces that other mayors would not?
Speaker 2 00:15:22 Well, I always often talk about the uniqueness of what Buffalo, um, we're in concert right now with, uh, uh, city of red deer and city of Lethbridge and Calgary, um, on our EMS dispatch issue, uh, that have now, by the way, we've just sent that off at, with, as a complaint to the Alberta ombudsman as to how that's being handled. Um, I think that, uh, because of the region and the size of it geographically, it's about how are we going to deliver in the rural areas at the same level? Um, it's not necessarily about having, uh, equal levels of, uh, of access to goods and services, but it's about having equitable. So we need to deliver equitable services to all of those regions. And that's why we're in the completion of, uh, doing our rural wastewater and sewer, uh, program. Uh, that's primarily for the south cause for triple one, we do have our own water treatment plant up there. Uh, and there is, uh, uh, has been that or MCI for, uh, some time as well. But, uh, I would say the biggest challenge this year is going to be, and I'm going to see it in, in the next, uh, within the next six to 12 months is going to be finalizing a plan that is going to return us to the service levels that we had with our EMS.
Speaker 3 00:16:41 And your final question. What is your, what is the biggest change you would like to see within Fort McMurray?
Speaker 2 00:16:48 The biggest change, um, change is always good, but what I'm hoping to see is that we're able to work with industry our largest stakeholder. Um, and I've had a lot of good discussions, particularly in the last, uh, several weeks, even, um, that, uh, where we can start developing ways to encourage their workforce, um, that is currently doing the fly in fly out to live here in Fort McMurray. Um, that's going to require some, a lot of other infrastructure changes, but there's incentives to, uh, uh, to create that. And I think, uh, really everything in my platform and everything that we do moving forward has to be about improving quality of life. And that has, and from that, it will encourage people to move here and, uh, and become a lifelong residents, uh, for, uh, uh, for me, that's going to be everything from, uh, more recreational opportunities, more opportunities for kids. And, uh, but more shopping, more retail, more, uh, some more box stores. We have the land now, and that was a huge challenge in the past, but now we have enough land that we can, uh, achieve those goals. There
Speaker 3 00:18:03 You go. And those have been your five questions.
Speaker 0 00:18:06 Awesome. Tanner man, always crushed them with those questions, bro.
Speaker 2 00:18:09 I think I did it over over a minute, but yeah,
Speaker 3 00:18:11 That's why it's called the Mac sitting minute. Cause nothing, nobody informed me. Mary actually does anything in a minute when they say I'll be
Speaker 2 00:18:17 A minute. Gotcha.
Speaker 0 00:18:19 That's right. It's our inside joke. But yeah, no, that was good. So, um, we're at part of the show where we're done. Like you're, we're about to hit 20 minutes, but everybody gets a shameless shout out or plug. And so I know you got a lot to talk about on this one. So I'm going to give you that time. So the camera's on you, the Mike's on you let's hear your shameless shout out or plug
Speaker 2 00:18:38 The shout out. Well, you know what, it's been a, uh, quite an interesting ride in the last 17 years for me. Um, I have, uh, been honored and privileged to, uh, to, to, to work with the community and help represent this community to, uh, uh, different parts of government or different, uh, factors of government. Yeah. And I've had a lot of people say, so why do you even keep going? Like, there's no way I'd ever put my name on a bell or whatever, but why do you keep going? And the answer is simple. I, um, I'm quite proud of some of the accomplishments that we've had in the past. We've had some failures as well. Um, but we were able to learn from those and move forward. And, uh, at the end of the day, I'm just not done yet. There's so much more we can do.
Speaker 2 00:19:22 And I want to be part of that. Uh, th th the future opportunities and a lot of people just see things as a big challenge. I see those as opportunities. Uh, we have, uh, learned a lot of lessons from, from our natural disasters, from how to handle a pandemic. Uh, I'm still not sure that there's anybody that really understands or knows how to do it the most effectively. Um, the main thing is, is we're doing things, uh, that are, are going to take us to the next level. So, uh, no, I'm, I'm, I'm ready to move on. Uh, I'm not dead yet. My feet are still heavily planted in the ground, and we're going to, uh, uh, I'm excited for the future where we go from, uh, October 18th is here. I just, uh, uh, am out there hoping that I've earned your support. And I plan to continue earning that, uh, uh, for the next generation, if, uh, uh, and regardless of who you're supporting, uh, regardless of who you're voting for for mayor, um, the most important thing is to participate. I see voting as a, not only a civic, uh, privilege, but it's a responsibility and a duty, and, uh, we've had a very low voter turnout. So, uh, I encourage you just to get out there and vote regardless of who you're voting for. There we go.
Speaker 0 00:20:40 Awesome. My man. Well, thank you very much for coming on the show. I really do appreciate it, please, please, please feel free to come back as many times as you want. Oh, I'll be back regardless. There we go. Awesome, man. I appreciate it. Okay. Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. That's been another episode of the Mac city morning show. Thank you so much for tuning in. If you do live in the Fort McMurray wood, Buffalo area, today is the day go out and vote. It's super important. So please go out and vote today on that note. I'll hopefully I hope that you're having a nice day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace, good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned into the Mac city morning show. I'm your host, Elliot Pierre. And we're going to start this episode off the same way we start every episode off with a moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you choose to spending with us truly does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, Tanner hit them with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:21:30 Oh, she caught me loves you're listening to the next city morning show.
Speaker 0 00:21:34 <inaudible> all right. And we're back. I'm excited about today's episode because it's Monday and today is election day and you need to go out and vote, but we have one of the candidates who is running for mayor on the show today. So I'm excited to have him here as you know, I don't introduce my guests. I let them do that themselves. So on that note, sir, can you please tell everybody at home who you are and what you're about,
Speaker 4 00:21:58 Uh, for those don't know, um, my name's Sandy Bowman and I've been a successful small business owner and had raised my family here for the last almost 30 years.
Speaker 0 00:22:07 Yeah. And you're uninformed air and I'm running for mayor. Yes. Yeah. So I guess I'm just going to just jump right into it. How has this election season been for you?
Speaker 4 00:22:17 Um, honestly I wouldn't trade it for anything. I've had an amazing time of talking to all the local residents, uh, from door knocking to, uh, my visits to Fort chip, won my visits to Conklin, uh, talking to everyone and getting what seemed, what they want, what were our systems and broken. Yeah. Um, it's been a great experience and no matter what after today, uh, we'll, uh, always cherish this and, uh, it'll go forward with me whether I'm sitting in that chair, uh, tomorrow morning or I'm, I'm going back to being a small business owner, family man in town. I will take this for what it is, and it was a great experience. It was a growing experience for me. Um, I've had my visit. Most of my visits have seen where our community is lacking, what we, what we need to do to bring things to the table, to take care of the people that are here. And, and I'll keep, even if I'm not sitting the mayor seat, I'll be an advocate for those things. And I'll still be the guy that shows up in Fort chip one on the winter road, working with the kids, working with the elders. I'll still be that guy.
Speaker 0 00:23:16 Nice, man. So when you first, uh, threw your hat in the ring, did you anticipate the level of work that it's turned into in regards to leading up to this? Uh, hello?
Speaker 4 00:23:27 Yes, I did. Um, honestly, um, I've been someone that's, uh, I took it as preparing for a competition and when I perfect competition, I need 12 weeks. I want to greet anything less as 12 weeks because we know the preparation that goes into it. Um, the proof is in the pudding and I've always been an entrepreneur and I've always trained people and I'm not a nine to five person. I'm a till the haze and the burn person, right. I'm a 24 7. I didn't work until I grew up on a farm. Um, I'm a haze in the burn person. You work when the sun comes up to the sun goes down, you don't use your, watch, you work till the hay is in the bar. And that's what I'm going to do. And I'll be working until 8:00 PM tonight.
Speaker 0 00:24:07 That's awesome, man. So throughout this, uh, campaign, what do you think is the one thing that's surprised you the most?
Speaker 4 00:24:14 Uh, honestly the most surprising, which it shouldn't have been is, uh, with our rural communities and with our, with our community inside of Fort Murray is a lack of some basic services, uh, for Chippewan you can't get your haircut. Yeah. A former Kai, there's a ACO trailer to get groceries in, um, Conklin. There's nowhere to get groceries. There's a gas station, um, little things like that. And, uh, in the community, just like, uh, busted sidewalks that are, uh, have actually after today. Yeah. After yesterday, busted sidewalks, a big, big issue for me, but just think like, that's not going to take care of the weeds growing up around like things you never really paid attention to before. I've got to see firsthand now and just kinda, I've taken a drive through town at two o'clock in the morning, just to, just to take a drive and just see things. And what stands out is it looks like we left five years ago when it's windy. We have tumbleweeds, uh, that's not indicative of a community that has gone through billions of dollars in the last 10 years. That's right.
Speaker 0 00:25:18 Yeah, no, it's true. It's, uh, you can look around and the grass is pretty long in some places. And like, as you said, for your foot, uh, curves, aren't always in the condition that they should be in,
Speaker 4 00:25:30 Not for a community that goes through a budget that we do. Yeah, no doubt. I mean, hats off for our municipal employees and our parks and rec, they go above and beyond to work what they have. Right. But, uh, as a council and mayor and ministration, we need to give them the ability to make those decisions themselves, to get out and do things. And I think it's given that I'm just palliative care. Yes. We can attitude instead of, um, hold on. Let's, let's look at this from different angles. We need to give our missile employees the power, the power to say, yes, I can help you. What can I do to help to those situations, those things we have in our community. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:26:04 So now when it comes to your, uh, friends and family, cause like, obviously you've been here a while. Like we run in somewhat of the same circles from time to time. How have, how has the response from them been like, what are they thinking about you in this whole process and what they're seeing online,
Speaker 4 00:26:17 They're super excited and super pumped. They're like, we need this. This is something they, and some people have said it for years that I've been an official mayor for years and ambassador of the community. I mean, whether it's been locally provincially internationally, I've been an advocate of Fort Marie and I've been, I love this community. I love the people in it and I'll be here for years and years to come. I think they're, they're just as excited as I am for this next step. Now, when it
Speaker 0 00:26:43 Comes to the door knocking, um, tell me, explain to me how's that been going for you? What's that experience?
Speaker 4 00:26:52 It's been great. Um, it's funny because I'll knock on a door and, uh, the first question is, um, some people aren't go to selection for one thing, which is surprising with the signs, but yeah. But if it's not in your path of where you go each day, you're not going to know that's right. Simple as that. And a couple of signs aren't gonna make that much difference. Too many signs still make less difference. Right. Um, some people don't know their selections, so I ha I got to give my spiel. Yeah. Other people ask me, um, how long had it been the community? And some people are like, oh, you're the Bowman guy. I'm like, yeah, I'm the Bowman guy. Or do you know that guy? I'm like, I am that guy, but it's been, it's been great. I mean, I've talked to, and all the way I've been door knocking from, uh, from Fort chip one to Conklin and through town and, uh, talked to thousands and thousands of people. And I, I know I had the support in the community. I know I have the support from the people. It's just a matter of them getting out to vote and I need people to go vote. That's I can't stress that enough. Don't think it's in the bag. I need your vote and vote. But overall, I think I have the support of the community and they want to see this change.
Speaker 0 00:27:55 It'll be interesting. I think that's a really good point in regards to see, especially in this election, and I've said it before to the candidates have come through and yourself, like I've never seen an election like this, that has a, the changing of the guard to this scale from a brand new mayor. And most of the council is going to be brand new as well. So the vote really does count. So you gotta go out and you gotta do it. So hopefully everybody watching the show right now, after it's done those older vote, but even the early voting, I don't ever remember hearing people informing Marie talking like, oh yeah, I went and I put in my vote early for like the municipal election. Like I know, I don't remember that being said. And I follow,
Speaker 4 00:28:36 Uh, this, a municipality and elections pretty close over the last 30 years. I've always been, I have my nose stuck in it. And I'm always seeing who's who, and make it a point to meet all the people that are running and that's that sort of thing. But I don't think I've ever seen a two week advanced polls. Yeah. That's, uh, it's, it's amazing. Give people that opportunity. Uh, the only thing I fear is that people, when you have a longer span to do something, you put it off to tomorrow. So tomorrow's over tomorrow.
Speaker 0 00:29:06 Today's the day to day. So if you've been putting it
Speaker 4 00:29:08 Off, is it today? There's lots of locations around this valley that you can vote, just get out and do that.
Speaker 0 00:29:14 Um, so I, and this is the God for on his truth. Like I keep myself pretty isolated in a bubble. Like I actually don't go on social media as much as some people would assume. I do hardly ever look at other media sources as well. How has the campaign been going for you in regards to like a media standpoint, may it be like traditional radio, newspaper, social media? Like, how has that journey been throughout this campaign for
Speaker 4 00:29:40 You? I've used social media and a radio and that sort of thing for advertising for years and years and billboards I've used that for years. Yeah. So for me, it was just a transition into, into using those things for this or social media is above and beyond what you could even expect. I mean, my, uh, my business page
Speaker 0 00:30:03 Is about 4,000 followers and that's over the last, since social media started 2005, I believe whenever Facebook came up, but our, the mayor page now is almost, is almost to that amount in the last 12 weeks. So, so I know the support is here. I know, um, I had the support from the community, but I just need everyone to get up to vote. I'm as much the message go out. It's a good one. Yeah. And like I said, I'll be very interested to see the numbers because there's 24 people running for a council. Right. And that's the majority of them are new. So they're going to bring their friends and their family members out to vote for them. So I think you're like, it'll be very interesting to compare the numbers of who voted in this election versus who voted in the last lecture. I think you are going to see a peak. Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely. No, that's cool. So I did see that you flew out to Fort chip, uh, this weekend, Thanksgiving weekend, Monday. Have you, had you ever been,
Speaker 4 00:31:02 I've been going to Fort chip for, uh, probably almost 25 years. It's beautiful. I've driven that road probably more than anyone in town that lives in town. I know that road, the back of my hand took you up there. So often I teach martial arts to the children. And, uh, so when I first started that actually I, um, I was brought in by a few people, uh, Paul Tucker roo and Shannon Merton that wanted me to come into the community to, to bring that to the youth. Um, I started that and I brought it in and, uh, first thing I did was met with the elders, um, to see what they want to be with me. Actually, he didn't want me to kind of fly in town and take off and forget about them. Um, which I haven't going up, uh, last week was, was amazing. Um, we'd stopped to talk somebody and it was dairy mercury people that I know flew in St. Kendrick St. Claris. I mean, I've been going up for years, seeing a lot of people that I've known over the years and had great conversations with, and they, and I'm pretty known in the community because I've been so involved over the years. And I love Fort chip. I mean, that's, I mean, if I could, that's where I would retire.
Speaker 0 00:32:10 My wife wouldn't let me no, no, it's a beautiful place. Like I went out there years ago. I've been out there a few times now in the winter, during the winter roads with my cousin, Justin, um, through like church activities and whatnot. Yeah. Beautiful.
Speaker 4 00:32:25 Yeah. It's quite the drive. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:32:26 Oh, it's something to see. I strongly suggest don't do it by yourself. Go with people who know how to do it, but like, if you can drive on the winter road, it's, it's an experience.
Speaker 4 00:32:36 Yeah. It's an amazing, I mean, we have an amazing, beautiful are the arm. WB is one of the most beautiful places in the world when you stop and take a look. So I think that's going to the tourism aspect that can be for Chippewan, uh, would be astronomical. Um, and all it takes is a little help from this pality to get it, give it a boost, but I, yeah, summertime it beautiful out there. We spent the day just, and most of the time, just walking around and the sites.
Speaker 0 00:33:05 Beautiful. Cool, man. Well, you've been on the show before, so, you know, what's about to happen next. It's called the maxi minute. 10 is going to ask you some questions. I wish you nothing, but the best of luck, Tanner hidden with the Mac.
Speaker 3 00:33:14 I said a minute. Alrighty, question. Number one. What is one thing that you would admire about your running mates?
Speaker 4 00:33:21 Uh, the tenacity, um, and I want to say more than one thing, but it's what they have to put up with with, uh, social media, with competition, um, and just putting their name in the hat to kind of put themselves forward in a public public forum that, uh, doesn't always agree with you.
Speaker 3 00:33:40 Question number two. What is one aspect of Fort McMurray that you think should be grown upon?
Speaker 4 00:33:46 I think we have a huge tourism industry that we're not, we're not looking at
Speaker 3 00:33:51 Question number three. What is one thing that you were not expecting from your time knocking on doors?
Speaker 4 00:33:59 Not expecting? Uh, I think I pretty much everything I expected. Um, I, um, I've helped people catch their dogs. I've pretty much done everything and everything. I've kind of expected, uh, engaging in the community.
Speaker 3 00:34:12 Question number four. What do you think the gym and council will share in common?
Speaker 4 00:34:18 Uh, Jim and the council. I'm working with people, working with people from different backgrounds, uh, working with people who are from different ethnicities. Uh, I think that'll be the P probably something that's going to be that I can bring to the mayor position to bring people together.
Speaker 3 00:34:36 And your final question, what do you think is one thing the next council should, could continue from the last council?
Speaker 4 00:34:43 Uh, we need to keep the flood mitigation working. It has to be a top priority. Number one issue, uh, before we start looking at our strategic plans, that has to be number one
Speaker 3 00:34:55 And those opinions, five questions. Thank you.
Speaker 0 00:34:58 I liked a good questions as for usual Tanner. I don't know how you come up with those and like 10 minutes before
Speaker 3 00:35:03 I throw it to you. So it's a good question. I wish I knew
Speaker 0 00:35:06 The one thing that came out of that though, which I have always wondered about. And I know some people have tried to get it off the ground, but, uh, the tourism aspect of Fort McQuarry, you're talking, there's so much to see the Northern lights for goodness sakes.
Speaker 4 00:35:19 Uh, Northern lights is tough up here cause we, when we do get it, it's beautiful. But trying to I've had people come up. One of them lights, for example, big John McCarthy is white. They come up around events because they know the Northern lights greenery up here. Right. But it's hard to catch and you do catch it amazing. But, uh, when I talk about, I look at a Conklin at the lake there on how beautiful is that? When I look at tourism, I'm talking about like for Chippewan, um, our six lakes, there's some beautiful tourism things that we have kind of taken for granted that we can with little push, to be very accessible, like even a, a flight to Fort chip wants $300. You can fly up. They had been at breakfast, maybe do some fishing. I mean, everybody, their fishes do some ice fishing in the winter, something like that. You can fly back and it's an overnight thing. And I think we would, uh, we'd just get tourism there from our local people in their MWB if we
Speaker 0 00:36:11 That's interesting. I've never really heard that. That's a good point. Have you met, is that something that you were thinking about prior to running or is that something that is kind of,
Speaker 4 00:36:19 Yeah, I it's something I do. I I've, I've got rescued, um, flying into Fort Chippewa. I've driven up to Fort chip one, gone ice fishing at old Fort, uh, knowing kind of where it is and following a track and got there and spent the whole day there. Then as usually having a good time, you lose track of time. You try to head back at night. And, um, one of the elders actually that knew, I left that morning. She came looking for me and so I was kinda lost pleasing. And, uh, she pulled up and, and I don't remember her name, but she pulled up and, uh, she was a tiny little woman and she said here gave me some gloves and followed her back to town. So, um, so with, with the help, there can be a tourism industry. I don't advise anyone just to fly up and go to old for ice fishing on their own after my experience. But it is there.
Speaker 0 00:37:10 That's a good insight, man. I've never heard of, I've never really, uh, heard anybody speak about it like that. That could definitely be like a, a revenue generator and just an eye-opener for a lot of individuals locally and, or from a
Speaker 4 00:37:22 Absolutely. Yeah, I think, uh, it's used anythings locally, I think, is going to be our key for the next four years and stopped trying to sell us to the rest of the world. We need to work with industry and work with the people that are here now. Um, we're together with, with who's here now and take care of the other here. Now we've lost 25,000 people last five years. Yeah, we can't do that again. That happens. There won't be
Speaker 0 00:37:43 That's right. So the election is tonight. A lot of people are grown out to vote. Hopefully get out and vote if you are successful and you'll be, do become the mayor. Um, you're going to be a new mayor. You're going to have a new council, um, primarily new, you know what I'm saying? Um, what do you think one of the challenges to that is going to be for you?
Speaker 4 00:38:01 I think the biggest challenge is going to be trust. Uh, we need the American council, all of us sit down together and no matter how they got to that position, they're now sitting in that chair. We need to sit down together, um, before we start any strategic planning or anything and, and realize to trust each other. And we're here for the community and work forward from that point on, um, we've seen in the past personal issues come up, we've seen the past, uh, things come up. We need to work together. There has to be a trust in the room that we're all here for the same reason
Speaker 0 00:38:31 With the other counselors. If you, uh, I'm, I'm fascinated by it. Like I've never, I've always paid attention, but now that I'm get to sit down and chat with all of you guys, I liked, I got to ask cool questions. Um, have you had an opportunity or is that full Paul for you to sit down and chat with some of like the people who are running for council or potentially your running mates, um, you get a chance to bump into them and chat with them, or how does that, how's that dynamic work
Speaker 4 00:38:55 With the people running for council? I've talked to almost all of them, I think. And I've reached out, they've reached out and just talk to them about their ideas and their reasons for running. And some of them, even before they decided to run, um, they reach out to me or I reached out to them and thought they would be a good candidate. And we spoke previously and, and uh, I hope we continue that relationship. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:39:15 Well, that's good though. You're just building that relationship before everybody's sitting at the table and I guess you got to meet the people, even if like they don't make it in, they still in the community. So,
Speaker 4 00:39:26 Yeah. And they're out in the public. So they they've been talking to people as well. So you've got their ideas. And one of the biggest things I've come across, as you've heard from me is he has no experience. Right. And that's, that's like the it's always the elephant in the room. Um, but I do have experience when it comes to Robinson rules meetings. Now I run a meeting. I know how to do focus on and create a team how to do that. And through all this process where I do know is that anybody that's been on council last four years, been in politics last 20 years stuff come with now is their platforms. They could have made those motions. They had just as much power as a mayor seeing those seats over the last years, but they haven't. So I just find it all. When I, when we, I am speaking to people in the community, they, they bring up stuff like that.
Speaker 4 00:40:11 Things like that, as well as, oh, this person's going to do this. I'm like, well, that person had the opportunity to do that for four years and didn't do it. So what makes you think things are going to change? That's what I've seen is a broken system and we need to start from the ground up and, and take care of the people that are here and everyone running for council. Um, I've heard it all I've heard from everyone run for council is they want that same thing. They want to take care of the people. They want it, whether it's, uh, they're kind of small groups that they're forming or the people getting behind them or it's entire community together. And one pretty much wants the same thing. Um, it's just getting that path forward and working together. That'll Shiva.
Speaker 0 00:40:48 That's it? Well, my man, that's the end of our 20 minutes together. So thank you. And before you go, everybody's gets a shameless, shout up, shameless, shout out shameless, plug the Mike's on you. The camera's on you.
Speaker 4 00:41:01 It's of, anybody's taken a lot of heat in this and been been patient it's my wife and my children, but mostly my wife, my kids kinda stay in the background, but, uh, she's been the one I complained to at night. She's been the one that gets me a coffee in the morning, but I can't find her to walk because I'm a broken foot. Uh, she's had my back this whole time. And, uh, regardless of what happens tonight, um, I, my show does to her for,
Speaker 0 00:41:26 Oh, that's a beautiful shout out, man. Well, thank you for that. Thank you for coming on the show. And as you know, cause you've been here before, please feel free to come again and again and again,
Speaker 4 00:41:34 I definitely will. Um, we have, I think we're the last to talk about better, no matter where I'm sitting at the end of tonight, uh, we have lost DACA boat. That's it? Am I? I begging everyone just get out and vote. I mean, like I said earlier, I'm not a nine to five person I'm gonna work til Hazel burn. The hate is not in the burn, right? We need to vote. I know I have the support. We need people to vote the hate. We need to get the hay in the burn. That'll be 8:00 PM tonight.
Speaker 0 00:41:57 There we go. Sweet. Well Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo in the rest of the world. That's been another episode of the Mac city morning show. Thank you very much for tuning in. And if you live in Fort McMurray and the wood Buffalo area, please, please, please. Tonight, today, go out and vote. I hope you're having a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned into the Mac city morning show. I am your host Elliot Pierre, and we're going to start the show off on the same note. We start every show off with a moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you're spending with us truly doesn't mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, Tanner hidden with the,
Speaker 1 00:42:33 Oh, she caught me loves you're listened to the next city morning show.
Speaker 0 00:42:42 Okay. And we're back. All right. I'm excited about today's episode because, uh, it's timely. It's a timely episode. There is something very exciting going on today. Uh, today is the day that you go out and vote. So, uh, we have all of the, uh, candidates who are running from air. Um, so we're just going to get started. As you know, I don't introduce my guests. I let them do that themselves. So on that note, can you please introduce yourself and tell everybody at home
Speaker 6 00:43:05 We are good morning. Thanks for having me again, Elliot Tanner. It's a great pleasure to be back. I'm Verna Murphy and I'm running for mayor. Uh, today's the big day.
Speaker 0 00:43:15 This is the big day. So I guess my first question for you is throughout this whole process, like, what has it looked like for you? How do you feel about like what you've been doing the last few months?
Speaker 6 00:43:25 It's been like a real experience? Um, I, I guess the word that I would use is that it's been humbling. Um, it's really hard to like wake up every day for, you know, I think I announced in March, um, so to wake up like for a few months and be totally on and trying to convince people, um, to trust me and to vote for me has been, uh, it's been humbling. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:43:50 Yeah. Yeah. And so you, the one thing I've seen that you've, you started a long time ago, um, you started door knocking you and your husband and some other people. So how's it like explain the door-knocking process to me? Like why do you guys do it? Why do you feel it's important? It's obviously something that a lot of candidates and people running for council do, um, for somebody who's never ran before, and he's not a part of that world, like why is the door knocking so important?
Speaker 6 00:44:15 Yeah. So this is actually this week marks three months for us that we've been door knocking and we only missed, I think, three days for three total days of doing it. Well. Yeah, we, so, and lately we've been starting like 10 30, 11, uh, taken our little lunch breaks, like whatever part of town we're in and then back at it until one of us goes and picks up our daughter and then back at it again after supper. And, uh, and really, because the only way that people are going to get to know me is if I make myself accessible and making that connection on the doorstep, um, I've had so many great conversations. You know, people have been reaching out afterwards, like calling and, um, sending emails. Um, and I didn't really feel that I could just sit back. Like I wanted to show people that, you know, I really wanted to work for this job. I didn't want to just assume that anybody was going to vote for me. Like I went out and I did the work. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:45:12 And so when you're door knocking, like what's the average person that opens the door. Like if you're knocking on 10 doors, how many people open that for you?
Speaker 6 00:45:19 Usually we were getting about 50%. That's why we were trying to do it like throughout the different times a day. Right. Um, we didn't want to be going like to late at night or there's some warnings for, Tim's like nine o'clock one morning, Saturday morning, he's walking out the door and I'm like, where are you going door knocking? I'm like, no, yeah. It's Saturday morning. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:45:39 Yeah. 100% lose my vote. If you woke me up at 9:00 AM on a Saturday, I would take a mental note of that.
Speaker 6 00:45:50 Uh, but then he just sits there and vibrates cause you want to get going. Um, and he's been like my biggest cheerleader, my biggest supporter. Um, yeah, so we get like, usually about 50%, like at a 10. Um, at first, the first couple of weeks, it was, it was a tough slog. It was, you know, people weren't really ready to pay attention to the election three months ago. Um, they didn't really want to talk about any issues in particular. A lot of people were dealing with COVID and job losses and all kinds of different things. Um, but the last few weeks it's been really great. Oh, that's awesome to hear. You've been so engaging and even following up and asking for signs and then asking other questions if they thought of things afterwards. So it's been really good. Very cool.
Speaker 0 00:46:38 Now I keep myself in a bubble. I would like to say to an all purpose, but it just that's my life. Um, I don't pay attention too much media outside of like what I do here. So outside of just coming onto the show, what else have you been doing from like radio to podcasts? Like what is like the, the day to day grind of running for, for mayor?
Speaker 6 00:46:59 Yeah. Lately, like the, of course the media has been like a bit more involved, so like I've done interviews with the local farming Marie today and, uh, did just did an interview that was fairly lengthy for the three candidates with Vince McDermott. Oh, cool. Yeah. And then Jamie that's with CBC also just did an interview with the three candidates and I think that's out, like it must've been out towards the end of last week. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:47:25 So where does all that get posted to this all? Like when you, is it audio? Is it virtual? Is it written word? Like how does that get out? So people can find that and hear what you had to say
Speaker 6 00:47:33 Mostly on the Facebook pages. Like the, the today Facebook page has been posting anything that's related to the election that's, um, right happening today. But also like I've been doing, um, videos of my own. Yeah. Um, I've been trying to, you know, if somebody is asking me as a specific question over and over again, I've tried to address that like with my little videos and different posts,
Speaker 0 00:47:56 How did you find that what's going for you? Um, cause I know you were doing videos on Sunday saying like basically like ask for like a corner where people could like write into you and you'd respond to them. Yeah. How did you find the response to that one? It was really,
Speaker 6 00:48:09 Um, and, but it was funny cause like I'd sit there and try to tape them. Yeah. And it was the hardest thing I did during this whole campaign. I just would keep editing myself. Right. So I always find it's better, like just to go live with it, right? Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:48:24 Yeah. Well, cause you, you overthink it and that's the thing about this show. Some people come and they say like, Hey, are you going to edit this? I'm like, no, we're not like, what if I make a mistake? Well, that's okay because you're a human being and everybody makes mistakes. It makes you feel, it makes you look more authentic and a Tanner doesn't know how to edit. So yeah. There's that as well, Tanner is very talented, but editing is not one of his skillsets. So we just decided we wouldn't do it. Yeah. So what is happening on today? Election day on Monday? What is your Monday look like? Gearing up to getting people to go out to.
Speaker 6 00:48:57 Yeah, really just contacting like all my friends and family, like as much as I can throughout the day, just to remind them to go out and vote and get their friends with them and encourage their neighbors. Um, encourage people again. That's if they are still undecided to reach out, you know, I've been posting my cell phone. Some of my friends are like, it makes me so uncomfortable that your cell phone is out there so much. Yeah. But like everybody that has been calling and reaching out they've like had real concerns or like really great questions. So I'm always open for those conversations and like through doing all that, met some amazing people. No doubt. Yeah. It's been great. Like when you mentioned the door knockers before I've had people that literally have been going out for me every day, because they believe in me. And like I said earlier, like that's been really humbling. Yeah,
Speaker 0 00:49:50 Yeah, yeah. No doubt. No. Like the amount of work that all three of you guys have put into getting your name out there by being visible to people. It's, it's a huge undertaking.
Speaker 6 00:50:02 Yeah. And ironically enough, um, I'm a bit of an introvert, right? People don't know that about me. Um, when I say that people are like, how, how can you be getting into politics or an introvert? Yeah. I just liked the work. Yeah. I love the whole, um, the mechanics and the operations of, of how we run our city and how our local government represents our people that live here. Yeah. Um, I love things like Robert's rules for the meetings and yeah. All that stuff, like going to go into events like parties or social, things like that. Um, I'd rather be serving in the kitchen. That's right.
Speaker 0 00:50:42 Yeah. Yeah. Voluntary. Right,
Speaker 6 00:50:44 Right. That's what I did for so many years. And that's where I was comfortable for so long. Yeah. So it is hard to put yourself out there and open yourself or criticism and, uh, you know, comments and stuff, but
Speaker 0 00:50:58 You're on the job part of the job. Yeah. No, it'll be very interesting. Cause I find like there's 24 candidates, I think that are running for council. So that's more than I can ever remember that are running. Um, but because you have so many people that just means their friends and family will come out and vote as well. So I'm kind of thinking that there will be a lot of people going out to vote this this time.
Speaker 6 00:51:19 I hope I hope you're right. Um, our turnout has been historically low that's right. Um, there's been a lot more conversation this time around than when I ran for council four years ago. That's right. Um, a lot more people engaged, um, a lot more people that, you know, I have been saying openly to me, like I've never voted before or I haven't voted in years that have gone out and voted already in the advanced polls. Yeah,
Speaker 0 00:51:45 Yeah, yeah. I've had a lot of people tell me like, oh, I already voted. I'm like what? Where, how, and then like the advanced polls, there's a lot of people who've already went out and voted for this. Yeah.
Speaker 6 00:51:55 It's phenomenal. I can't wait to see the numbers. I know. Um, early on. Yeah, it was already up like 56% over 2017. Wow. Yeah. So it's going to be exciting tonight to see like what all the results are.
Speaker 0 00:52:08 So how does, um, once again, for people at home, I know, I know the answer to this question, but how does it get announced? Because we know like when you follow the federal election, it's like a ticker it's happening right now. It's a big everybody tunes in to watch for an election like this. How, how does it work for the people?
Speaker 6 00:52:24 Yeah. Just once, once the polls close and the numbers start coming in, usually it's the local reporters that are there putting up the numbers and sharing it on social media and, you know, usually turn to an inch of the radio stations. They're doing a live broadcast. And as the numbers coming in, like they're, they're giving us a play-by-play.
Speaker 0 00:52:44 Yeah. Very cool. Yeah. No, it'll, it'll be interesting to see what happens. So out of this whole experience that you've gone through, is there one moment that sticks out to you that you're like, Hey, that was pretty cool. Oh,
Speaker 6 00:52:55 Oh, I don't know. Probably just to be honest, I'm seeing my daughter like get involved. Okay. Um, my two older boys, my oldest was always very, um, in tune and he, you know, always paid attention to like, not just local politics, but national and international. Yeah. Um, my second oldest, not so much, like he's more engaged this time around. He's been out doing door knocking with me and he's been putting up signs and, um, he's been really getting engaged. Um, Shaylene is very, very quiet girl. And, uh, throughout the last three months she's been just getting more, um, more confident and she's like, come door knocking with me. She's actually engaged with people like on some of the questions. Cool. Um, she's gone to things and actually said like, you should vote for my mom. Yeah. So that like on a personal level, that's been awesome. The best part of the whole campaign. No doubt. Okay. Well we're at the part of the show called the max. The minute you've done it before, I'm just going to ask you these questions. I don't know what he's going to ask 10 or best. He wrote the max 30 minute.
Speaker 3 00:54:04 Uh, Alrighty. Question number one. What is your weirdest story you have from door knocking in Fort McMurray?
Speaker 6 00:54:13 Like, are we, are we are rated or G Hey, whatever you want to say. There's no rating scale. Yeah. It's probably the weirdest when you're on a doorstep and you get propositioned. Okay. And it happens quite often. Wow. Yeah. So that's probably the weirdest thing. Um, except the other day we were, um, we were door knocking and they could, and this house had these really, really elaborate Halloween decorations. And they had almost like, um, silicone, um, heads that were like on spikes on the fence. And as I was walking up, I was looking at these heads and I was like, wow, like the detail of them and everything. Right. And the woman that lived there was sitting wrapped in a blanket on the step and fell off the step. It scared me. So, and then it scared her and then we had a good laugh. It was a, yeah. That's awesome.
Speaker 3 00:55:18 Uh, question number two. What is one thing you've learned about the community from your may oral run?
Speaker 6 00:55:25 Um, one thing that I've learned, um, you know, sadly, maybe that we're not as inclusive as we thought we were here, um, in talking to some of the other candidates that are running and running and, um, just meeting with some different groups in the last number of weeks. Um, I think we have some work to do on, on being more inclusive while celebrating the diversity that we have here. You know, even the last couple of years, like I've proudly said at different meetings that, you know, we, we have languages here that, you know, represent 72 different countries. And, uh, but in, in talking to people the last few months, I really think that we have some more work to do on that. Okay.
Speaker 3 00:56:15 Question number three. How has running for Fort McMurray's mayor changed you as a person?
Speaker 6 00:56:24 Um, that's a good question.
Speaker 0 00:56:27 Yeah. Bills
Speaker 6 00:56:28 It, um, you know what I guess, just going back to really appreciating like my real family and friends, um, some of them have not been engaging in politics, you know, ever. And, uh, they've all had my back. They've been door knocking. They've dropped off suffers for us when they know that like during the trade show weekend, when we were crazy busy, they've taken my daughter for weekends away. So she could have a break from like this whole experience. Um, and that just made me appreciate them more. And I know no matter what the outcome is tonight, that they're all still going to be in my corner tomorrow. So that's, that's another part of it. That's been really great. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:57:17 Yeah. Question number four. What do you think is the biggest challenge that Fort McMurray's next council will face?
Speaker 6 00:57:27 Uh, we have potentially, I think we have a lot of new counselors coming in and, um, I wrote about issues for years and forming Marie before I got elected. And I had covered council as a reporter, like leading up to when I finally decided to run for his time. And, uh, when I got elected, I still had a lot of work to do to like just kind of catch up and get my, like my legs underneath me. Um, when I first got elected. Right. So I'm hoping that if I do get elected, um, you know, I'll be able to bring that experience to the table and, and help them like get comfortable in their new roles. Um, but I think that'll be the first initial challenge that we'll have. Um, after that, I think it's really just like repairing and, and nurturing some of the relationships that have just been on the back burner for far too long. Right. Both with industry and the province. Right.
Speaker 3 00:58:27 Yeah. And your final question, what is one thing that you think all three mayoral candidates having common?
Speaker 6 00:58:36 Oh, you know what, it's funny. Cause last night I was thinking about just people in general, like after we had done, um, another discussion and I, I did another form with, uh, the youth through the McCoy group that we have here in town and we're all more alike than we are different. You know, we all want what's best for the community. We want our community to be safe for our families. Um, so I really think that we really are more alike than we are different. Yeah, that's right. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:59:09 And those have been your five questions.
Speaker 6 00:59:11 Thanks Tanner.
Speaker 0 00:59:12 So yeah, the one thing that is going to be a tough one, I think is there's so many new counselors in theory. Yeah. Like there's not a lot of people who are like rerunning again, so yeah. It's good. A brand new team that's going to be there. So I think like that communication and like, uh, coming together is going to have to be a big focus. You guys all get together.
Speaker 6 00:59:34 Yeah. And I, there's some really, really strong candidates that are, that are running for council. Um, I I'm, I was happy that people had such a, a variety of choice this time around. Um, but yeah, it's, it's going to be some work and, but I, my first goal is really to just do some team building and have that trust and cohesiveness at the table, because then you get a lot more work done.
Speaker 0 01:00:00 Yeah. Have you had a chance to talk to a lot of the other people that are running are like, how does it, how does that work? Like, is that like a taboo or is that something you want to do? Like how does
Speaker 6 01:00:10 That'll look? No, I've been reaching out to as many of them as I can. And I've been going, having coffees and lunches and all that kind of stuff. So that, um, I did the same when I ran for council last time. And some of the people that ran last time that didn't get in the air such like amazing community people, but they've stayed friends with me over the last four years. And so I think I'll have the same experience this time because there was some people that are running this time that I had never interacted with before. And you're just amazing, like really, truly like really, really strong advocates for the community. Okay,
Speaker 0 01:00:51 Cool. Well, listen, that's the end of our 20 minutes, but uh, so thank you for coming. Thank you for running. I think that everybody's doing it just a little bit, not spot. Hey, somebody's got to do it and so good for you. Um, but before you leave, everybody gets a shameless out or plug. So the camera's on you, the Mike's on you. Okay.
Speaker 6 01:01:08 Let's hear it. Thanks Elliott. Thanks Tanner. Um, I, I, my shameless plug of course is that's. I hope people go out and vote today if you're undecided. Um, I don't know what I can really say to change people's minds at this point, except for the fact that I will do the work. I'm so passionate to build this region. I'm so passionate about our municipal government. Um, don't let anybody else go pick who is going to represent you. Um, and I'm hoping that people will vote for Verna because, uh, I'm always going to be accessible. I'm always going to be open and fair. Um, and I won't be swayed by, you know, a small minority in town that, uh, might be trying to work behind the scenes. Like I will truly represent everybody in the region and the best interests of the region.
Speaker 0 01:02:02 There we go. Awesome. All right. Well Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. Thank you for tuning in to the max city morning show. Always do appreciate it, please, please, please go out and vote today. And, uh, I hope you're having a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
