By CHAT News Today

Mayor Ted Clugston to seek re-election

Jan 10, 2017 | 12:34 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — It’s official; Mayor Ted Clugston will seek re-election.

The mayor told a packed Medicine Hat Lodge ballroom during the annual State of the City Address Tuesday afternoon he intends to stand for re-election as mayor during the upcoming municipal election.

Clugston’s speech made it seem like he was not going to seek re-election, as he touched on the reasons not to run, such as time away from his family.

“Those were the…feelings I was having trying to make this choice,” he said.

During the annual address, Clugston spoke about the accomplishments of city council during his term, specifically citing the opening of the expanded Family Leisure Centre, the Canalta Centre and the redevelopment of the seniors centre.

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“I hope our legacy is that we left the city better than we’ve found it,” he said, adding the capital projects the city instituted also helped provide jobs during an economic downturn.

While his council accomplished a lot, Clugston said there are still some things left for he and council to do.

The mayor said one of the most important priorities for council now, and following the 2017 election, is to ensure the city is in strong financial shape.

“I really do think the next council, it may actually seem boring,” he said. “What they’re going to do is try to build back up the reserves, try to get the dividend again from the oil exploration and hopefully commodity prices rebound….it may sound boring, but it’s also very prudent to build up the reserves and make sure the ship is going the right direction.”

Clugston spoke highly about his current council he worked with during his address, saying they are a team.
“This is the best council I’ve worked on,” he said. “There were fractions in the last councils, there was alliances, I didn’t think it was healthy.

“Would I like to see them return? Yes. If I am the mayor, I would love to work with this council again.”
Clugston was first elected Mayor in 2013, unseating incumbent Norm Boucher and challengers Milvia Bauman and Phil Turnbull. Prior to being elected mayor, Clugston was elected to city council in 2007 and 2010.

The municipal election is set for October 16.