There is a race for reeve in the MD of Bonnyville as local realtor Erwin Thompson is challenging incumbent Ed Rondeau for the head seat on MD Council.
Rondeau has spent nearly two decades in municipal politics, which started in 1992 when he was elected as a councillor for the Town of Bonnyville. He is now seeking his third straight term as reeve of the MD.
“I've enjoyed being able to make a difference,” said Rondeau. “You are devoting your time for the common good and to me that is a huge reward. I have heard good comments from good people about all of the work we have done in the last six years and that in itself is the reward.”
Rondeau is proud of what the MD has accomplished over the past few years without putting the municipality into debt. Over the past four years council has approved and seen completed ski hill upgrades, a new chalet, a new shop, a new parks shop, a new office building and renovations of the old office building.
But Rondeau pointed out roads continue to be at the forefront of the MD's priorities.
“One of the biggest issues I see going forward is that we have to maintain this accelerated level of repairing and improving roads,” said Rondeau. “This year we were able to do 23 miles (37 kilometers) of paving and 50 miles (80 kilometers) of cold mix. I would like to see that maintained and maybe even improved on.”
Rondeau mentioned creating a regional water plan and lobbying the government to fix the intersection of Highways 660 and 41 and the Ardmore intersection as two other important issues that need to be solved.
“As a municipality, we have to continue to work and lobby the government to try and get those intersections fixed because they are dangerous.”
Thompson, a 64-year-old originally from Saskatchewan, is a realtor at Remax Realty in Bonnyville. He has spent the last seven years working in real estate after transitioning over from a 33-year sales career, which saw him work with companies such as Lakeland Chrysler, Tercier Motors and Bonnyville/Cold Lake Chrysler.
“The region has been good to me and I want to give something back,” said Thompson. “I think it is time for a change.”
“Affordable housing, waste management, transportation routes, emergency services, education and fiscal management, those are the things that are important to me,” said Thompson.
Thompson has lived in Alberta for the past 25 years and is currently living just outside the City of Cold Lake.
Part of his platform is pushing for better cooperation between the MD and City of Cold Lake.
“I think we can work together. I think there is a lot of bias. They seem to fight back and forth a lot and I think that is a waste,” said Thompson. “I believe we have to increase open dialogue between all levels of municipal government and work together for the betterment of our region.”
Thompson has volunteered with a variety of organizations, including as either director or president of the Bonnyville Boy Scouts, the Exhibition Association, Chamber of Commerce and Ag. Society. He is also the current president of the Bonnyville/Cold Lake Wildrose Association.
He feels that his past success in sales has provided him the skills to succeed if elected as reeve.
“I am good at time management. I am good at conflict resolution. I am good at selling. I am a guy that gets stuff done. If there is something that can be done, I will get it done,” said Thompson.
He feels the intersection at Highways 660 and 41 is something that council needs to deal with. He also hopes to be a part of striking a deal on a regional water plan.
“Water will be a major issue in the coming years and solutions must be found to share and care for current supplies,” said Thompson. “This will take a community effort involving industry, town, cities and rural residents alike.”