20 2017 ELECTION PREVIEW 4


Darren Hirsch


1 Interesting question. I have been in the situation many times. I usually introduce myself to


people in the following respectful manner: ”Hi, my name is Darren Hirsch, pleased to meet you. What is your name?”


If the inference with your question is that I am running for council and need to introduce myself, I would follow up with a remark that I am currently a candidate in the upcoming city election. Usually then I would pause, and wait for a response.


2


My commitment to renewable energy is fully known and reported in the media already. As the Chair of Medicine Hat College, I was pleased to announce an exciting pilot project with Blue Energy on a solar/wind micro grid on MHC campus. Given Medicine Hat is one of the sunniest cities in Canada, and already owns wind turbines, it really is obvious we need to be part of the conversation. The City of Medicine Hat needs to occupy this space and become a centre of excellence in renewable energy before someone else does. We are already known as a "City with energy.” We simply need to expand the narrative. I already have experience in this area.


3


The key word is balance. We need simpler government and need to stop the wayward spending. We need to strike the right chord between the taxpayer and the user. Nearly every service program offered by the City is subsidized. I believe a thorough review of every city service needs to be implemented immediately. For example, I feel it is tragic that the Esplanade is subsidized. Some residents simply cannot afford to attend a show or concert, but yet they are paying through their taxes to reduce the ticket price for someone who easily can afford full price. Does not make sense to me. Significant cuts to transit, as an another example, is not the answer either. I recently participated in the same financial review at the college to great success. We concentrated on the things we did well, and executed with excellence. We can do the same at City Hall.


RE-ELECT RICK MASSINI for Public School Board


A Vote for Rick is a Vote for Kids! Visit me on Facebook


"Children First"


Financial stability and a return to a balanced budget not predicated on large increases to taxes. Unfortunately, the City finds itself in an "operational deficit" (their terms). Simply put, the City, on paper, cannot meet its financial obligations for this fiscal year. It is the equivalent of a citizen not being able to cover the monthly mortgage or rent. We are told we are in this financial predicament due to the low gas and oil prices. The truth is previous councils (including my term on council in 2007) kept savings aside due to the known price fluctuations of oil and gas. Sadly, those reserves are now spent. There was no Plan B for this council, and now here we are. As a banker for close to 20 years, I ALWAYS advise my clients to have contingency (savings) plans. I am at a loss for words.


5


A review of harmonizing the development plans of each municipality/county should always be reviewed. Nobody needs a landfill in one jurisdiction next to a residential development in another jurisdiction. I believe a condition should be added to include a requirement for consultation on any proposed major infrastructure to determine if any economies of scale can be achieved. We are all taxpayers, and net savings should be sought out. Currently, there is a perception the participants are adversarial in economic development. I believe we should become allies. What is good for the region is good for Medicine Hat, as we are the major trading community in S.E. Alberta. It is worth noting that I was an original member of the Intermunicipal Development Plan when I served on City Council previously. Together, we craſted a great start. I would be honoured to sit on the committee again.


Jamie


McIntosh 1 My name is Jamie, I grew up in Edmonton but have called Medicine Hat home since 2001.


My commitment to my community began when I joined the Edmonton Kinsmen Club in 1995, eventually becoming Club President in 2000. It was this role that brought me to Medicine Hat for a District convention in the spring of 2001. I spent that summer here and moved here in the fall of 2001. I have been extremely active in this community as a volunteer and in 2013 made the decision to expand my community involvement further and put my name in the race for Councillor of Medicine Hat.


2


While I support the vision of renewable energy, I struggle with the costs associated with delivering the energy to the consumer. The City has seen some investment in this area, specifically with our wind turbines, but moving forward we must ensure that we have a very clear plan for additional development. The City is currently assessing our current and future needs, and how proper investment from both private and public money will align us with Provincial goals.


The fact that the City operates its own power plant puts us in a very unique situation. As a result, moving forward with renewables energy initiatives, and the costs associated with those decisions both for the City and for the ratepayer, must weigh heavily in Council’s future decisions.


I have been a teacher since 1995, and have been running a small business since 1998, one being a deck and fence building company in Edmonton, and since 2001 have operated a small property management company in Medicine Hat.


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